What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rumney has the most affordable homes ($310k median).

Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Rumney	Reading
People
Population	1,458Highest	699Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.5±2.3Lowest 14% above U.S.	51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S.
	Reading and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.7%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22%	18.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Rumney and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Reading and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	46%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Rumney and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$79,444±$21kLowest about the U.S. average	$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above U.S.
	Reading and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$309,800±$37kLowest 7% below U.S.	$377,200±$72kHighest 13% above U.S.
	Reading and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,064±$100Lowest 25% below U.S.	$1,100±$331Highest 22% below U.S.
	Reading and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,716Lowest 51% above U.S.	$5,754Highest 84% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.1%±21.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Reading and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	8.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S.	1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest 24% above U.S.	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	14.4%±7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Reading and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Rumney School District	Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.