Compare towns

Cavendish vs Olean vs Putney vs Reading

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Cavendish has the highest household income ($89k).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
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.

MeasureCavendishOleanPutneyReading
People
Population
1,242
13,738Highest
2,622
699Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.2±5.9
16% above U.S.
39±2.6
about the U.S. average
37.2±5.2Lowest
4% below U.S.
51.1±7.6Highest
31% above U.S.
Reading and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.3%±4.8
U.S.: 22%
23.5%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.4%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.5%±4.2
U.S.: 22%
Olean and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.6%±2
U.S.: 17.2%
19.1%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
18.1%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
28.2%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Reading and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
39.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
29.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
46%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.3%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
3.6%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
20.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.1%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$89,063±$29kHighest
10% above U.S.
$51,261±$7kLowest
37% below U.S.
$79,706±$18k
about the U.S. average
$85,000±$19k
5% above U.S.
Cavendish and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$285,100±$40k
14% below U.S.
$86,100±$6kLowest
74% below U.S.
$300,000±$44k
10% below U.S.
$377,200±$72kHighest
13% above 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
$1,000±$546
29% below U.S.
$794±$52
44% below U.S.
$508±$482Lowest
64% below U.S.
$1,100±$331Highest
22% below U.S.
Reading and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,948
27% above U.S.
$3,130Lowest
about the U.S. average
$5,313
70% above U.S.
$5,754Highest
84% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
28.9%±27Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52%±9.1
U.S.: 51.1%
54.2%±19.4
U.S.: 51.1%
63.3%±31.7Highest
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
6.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
26.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
16%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
55.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
72.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
84.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1969
11 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 min
30% below U.S.
14 minLowest
45% below U.S.
18 min
32% below U.S.
33 minHighest
25% above U.S.
Work from home
18.5%±6.6
U.S.: 15.1%
8.4%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.9%±6.5
U.S.: 15.1%
22.9%±10.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Reading and Cavendish 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 Green Mountain Unified School District #77 OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76
High school in town None 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 18 photos → None yet 6 photos → 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.