Compare towns
Brookline vs Olean vs Reading vs Putney
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
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.
| Measure | Brookline | Olean | Reading | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531Lowest |
13,738Highest |
699 |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 16% above U.S. |
39±2.6 about the U.S. average |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Reading and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Olean and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16k about the U.S. average |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
| Reading and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $290,700±$37k 13% below U.S. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$377,200±$72kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
| Reading and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S. |
$794±$52 44% below U.S. |
$1,100±$331 22% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000 60% above U.S. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$5,754Highest 84% above U.S. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
16% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
18 min 32% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #337 of 484 in NY | — | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | — | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.