What stands out worked out from the figures below

Scriba has the shortest commute (21 min average).

Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.7%).

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	Scriba	Reading
People
Population	6,603Highest	1,637Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.3%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+0.7%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	46.3±3.1 16% above NY	46.3±6.4 16% above NY
Kids under 18	19.7%±3.6Highest NY: 20.5%	17.2%±2.9Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Scriba and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18%±4.3Lowest NY: 17.9%	21.5%±2Highest NY: 17.9%
	Reading and Scriba are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.5%Lowest NY: 40.2%	37.9%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.2%±0.8Lowest NY: 7%	4.2%±2.4Highest NY: 7%
	Reading and Scriba are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$92,036±$17kHighest 7% above NY	$86,131±$9kLowest about the NY average
	Scriba and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$158,700±$10kLowest 63% below NY	$160,200±$37kHighest 62% below NY
	Reading and Scriba are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$980±$67Lowest 40% below NY	$1,507±$514Highest 7% below NY
	Reading and Scriba are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,649Highest 45% below NY	$3,219Lowest 51% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.7%±13.4Highest NY: 52.1%	33.9%±19.2Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Scriba and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.3%Highest NY: 14%	5.6%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.5%Highest NY: 54.3%	81.4%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 26 yrs newer than NY	1967Lowest 8 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 34% below NY	28 minHighest 13% below NY
Work from home	6.6%±2.4Lowest NY: 14.9%	11.7%±4.6Highest NY: 14.9%
	Reading and Scriba are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

NY 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.