Reading, NY housing market
Home prices around Reading have risen about 62% over the past 5 years. Builders were permitted 3 new homes in 2025.
Home values, sales, trends and how Reading compares with the towns next door — updated as new data is published.
Home prices up 62% in 5 years
The federal house price index for the ZIP codes around Reading rose 62% over the past 5 years, faster than across New York (52%). Last year prices rose 8%. Carrying the Census median home value forward with that index puts the typical Reading home at roughly $283,000 today.
Show as a table
| Year | Change that year | Since 2002 | New York since 2002 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | +8% | +248% | +145% |
| 2024 | +9.1% | +222% | +131% |
| 2023 | +5.3% | +195% | +116% |
| 2022 | +9.7% | +180% | +99% |
| 2021 | +19% | +156% | +77% |
| 2020 | +13% | +115% | +61% |
| 2019 | −3.7% | +89% | +56% |
| 2018 | +18% | +97% | +51% |
| 2017 | −1.7% | +67% | +43% |
| 2016 | +7.8% | +69% | +36% |
| 2015 | +9.8% | +57% | +32% |
| 2014 | −5.1% | +43% | +29% |
| 2013 | +5.6% | +51% | +26% |
| 2012 | −0.5% | +43% | +25% |
| 2011 | +4.6% | +44% | +28% |
| 2010 | −1.7% | +37% | +31% |
| 2009 | +12% | +40% | +35% |
| 2008 | −10% | +24% | +43% |
| 2007 | −0.1% | +39% | +47% |
| 2006 | +22% | +39% | +46% |
| 2005 | +20% | +14% | +37% |
| 2004 | 0% | −5% | +21% |
| 2003 | −5.1% | −5.1% | +8.2% |
| 2002 | — | — | — |
Federal Housing Finance Agency House Price Index (annual, developmental) for ZIP codes 14891, 14878, covering 58% of Reading’s land, weighted by land area. It tracks repeat sales and appraisals of the same homes, so it shows how prices changed, not what homes cost. The estimated value scales the Census (ACS 2020-2024) median home value by that change.
3 new homes permitted in 2025
Builders were permitted 3 new homes in Reading in 2025, all single-family houses, worth about $1.1 million to build. That's 1.8 per 1,000 residents, about the pace of New York as a whole. Over the past 10 years, Reading has permitted 58 homes in all.
Homes vs. people, 2010–2020
Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses, Reading gained 12 residents while 34 new homes were permitted: about 0.4 new residents per new home. Building outpaced population growth, which usually means smaller households or homes used part of the year. 18% of Reading's homes are seasonal or vacation homes, which adds housing without adding residents. Across New York: 2.2 new residents per new home.
Residents: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 and 2020 censuses. New homes: permits issued 2010–2019.
Show as a table
| Year | New homes | Single-family | 2+ per building | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 (Jan–Aug) | 1 | 1 | 0 | $330,000 |
| 2025 | 3 | 3 | 0 | $1.1 million |
| 2024 | 5 | 5 | 0 | $1.7 million |
| 2023 | 15 | 7 | 8 | $3.3 million |
| 2022 | 10 | 10 | 0 | $2.8 million |
| 2021 | 5 | 5 | 0 | $1.6 million |
| 2020 | 4 | 4 | 0 | $1.3 million |
| 2019 | 5 | 5 | 0 | $1.8 million |
| 2018 | 5 | 5 | 0 | $1.8 million |
| 2017 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2016 | 6 | 6 | 0 | $1.5 million |
| 2015 | 3 | 3 | 0 | $680,000 |
| 2014 | 4 | 4 | 0 | $845,000 |
| 2013 | 5 | 5 | 0 | $966,000 |
| 2012 | 4 | 4 | 0 | $736,000 |
| 2011 | 2 | 2 | 0 | $165,000 |
| 2010 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2009 | 6 | 6 | 0 | $1.1 million |
| 2008 | 3 | 3 | 0 | $991,000 |
| 2007 | 7 | 7 | 0 | $958,000 |
| 2006 | 4 | 4 | 0 | $347,000 |
| 2005 | 12 | 12 | 0 | $1.5 million |
| 2004 | 4 | 4 | 0 | $725,000 |
| 2003 | 7 | 7 | 0 | $930,000 |
| 2002 | 2 | 2 | 0 | $261,000 |
| 2001 | 6 | 6 | 0 | $610,000 |
| 2000 | 5 | 5 | 0 | $509,000 |
Homes authorized by building permits, counted in the year the permit was issued. U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, through August 2026.
Reading and its neighbors
| Town | Typical value | 1-yr change | 2-bed rent | New homes 2025 | Median income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reading | — | +8%† | $1,080 | 3 | $86,131 |
| Hector | — | — | $1,560 | 25 | $79,904 |
| Dix | — | +8%† | $1,120 | 6 | $53,668 |
| Tyrone | — | — | $1,080 | 9 | $72,083 |
| Starkey | — | — | $1,090 | 3 | $55,064 |
| Watkins Glen | $244K | +2.5% | $1,080 | 1 | $49,632 |
† FHFA price index change, where Zillow has no home value for the town.
1.9 years of income
The typical Reading home costs about 1.9 years of the town's median household income, less than across New York (6.1 years).
Home value ÷ ACS median household income.
Owners, rent & taxes
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024.
A two-bedroom rents for about $1,080
HUD's Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom in Reading is $1,080 a month, utilities included: roughly what a modest, recently rented unit costs. Renters already in Reading pay a median of $1,507. A two-bedroom takes about 15% of the town's median household income.
Studio $740 · 4 bedrooms $1,500
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, FY2026 Fair Market Rents by ZIP code (14878, 14891; Schuyler County, NY), weighted by land area. A Fair Market Rent is the 40th-percentile rent plus utilities for a standard unit. Median rent: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey.
Home values: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), Zillow Research. Sales, days on market and supply: Redfin Data Center. Income, ownership, taxes and rent: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. New homes: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey. Price trend: Federal Housing Finance Agency House Price Index. Fair Market Rents: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Listings link to their publishers.