Compare towns
Dunkirk vs Olean vs Reading vs Newark
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 shortest commute (14 min average).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($377k median).
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 | Dunkirk | Olean | Reading | Newark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,549 |
13,738Highest |
699Lowest |
8,991 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±3.1 12% above U.S. |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
41.1±3 6% above U.S. |
| Reading and Dunkirk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Olean and Newark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dunkirk and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,299±$6k 34% below U.S. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above U.S. |
$60,006±$9k 26% below U.S. |
| Reading and Newark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $94,700±$6k 72% below U.S. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$377,200±$72kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$132,600±$12k 60% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $866±$81 39% below U.S. |
$794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$1,100±$331Highest 22% below U.S. |
$979±$97 31% below U.S. |
| Reading and Newark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,352Lowest 25% below U.S. |
$3,130 about the U.S. average |
$5,754Highest 84% above U.S. |
$4,106 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.6%±7.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.8%±11.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 24.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
22.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
60.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1941 39 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Highest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 28% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
21 min 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 4.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #465 of 484 in NY | #337 of 484 in NY | — | — |
| School district | DUNKIRK CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — |
| High school in town | DUNKIRK SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
12.2Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 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.