The Town FilesReading, New York
Town in Schuyler County · population 1,719 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $160,200
- Household income
- $86,131
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 79°
- Snow a year
- 48 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 46.3
Reading is a town of 1,719 people in Schuyler County, New York. The median home is worth $160,200, below the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks better for retirees than 86% of New York towns, better for a vacation home than 85% of New York towns.
How Reading ranks
Percentile among New York towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New York towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Reading is worth $160,200, below the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 1.9 times the median household income of $86,131, which is more affordable than 88% of New York towns. Median rent is $1,507 a month. 81.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Reading | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $160,200 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $1,507 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $86,131 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.9× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 81.4% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1967 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 17.6% | — |
Who lives in Reading
| People | Reading | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.3 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.5% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 17.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 37.9% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.6% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 9.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.6% | — |
| Work from home | 11.7% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 28.4 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 75.7% | 91.1% |
Weather in Reading
July highs average 79.1°F and January lows 14.4°F. About 38.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 48.0 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 3 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 156 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Reading since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on August 30, 1955 about 6.3 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 1 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 18, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 25 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 22, 2014.
Severe weather in Schuyler County since 1996
Schuyler County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 20, 2020 | Biological | DR-4480: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3434: Covid-19 |
| October 1, 2018 | Flood | DR-4397: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| October 28, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3351: Hurricane Sandy |
| September 30, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3262: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Schuyler County
Schuyler County had 5,066 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,379 a year. Unemployment was 3.9% in 2023; in Reading itself the ACS puts it at 5.1%.
Towns near Reading
- Watkins Glen, NY4.5 mi · 1,863 people · home $204,700
- Tyrone, NY5.6 mi · 1,637 people · home $170,400
- Dix, NY6.2 mi · 3,757 people · home $165,000
- Montour Falls, NY6.7 mi · 1,635 people · home $123,900
- Starkey, NY7.2 mi · 3,407 people · home $145,700
- Orange, NY7.3 mi · 1,408 people · home $119,200
- Dundee, NY7.4 mi · 1,690 people · home $95,900
- Montour, NY7.9 mi · 2,323 people · home $158,500
Reading questions
Is Reading, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Reading scores better for retirees than 86% of New York towns and quieter than 68%. 21.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.3).
How much does a house cost in Reading?
The median owner-occupied home in Reading is valued at $160,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $86,131, so homes cost about 1.9 times income. Median rent is $1,507 a month.
What is the weather like in Reading?
July highs average 79.1°F and January lows 14.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.9 inches of precipitation a year and 48.0 inches of snow.
Does Reading get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Reading since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on August 30, 1955. The typical New York town has had 5.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)