Compare towns
Johnson City vs Olean 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
Johnson City has the most renters (47.7% rent).
Olean has the oldest population (median age 53.8).
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.
| Measure | Johnson City | Olean | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,940Highest |
1,664 |
699Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±3.4Lowest 5% above U.S. |
53.8±5.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6 31% above U.S. |
| Olean and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.1%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Reading and Johnson City are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $56,283±$4kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$74,583±$20k 8% below U.S. |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Reading and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $117,100±$4kLowest 65% below U.S. |
$158,600±$17k 52% below U.S. |
$377,200±$72kHighest 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,031±$66 27% below U.S. |
$666±$334Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$1,100±$331Highest 22% below U.S. |
| Reading and Johnson City are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,982Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$4,027 29% above U.S. |
$5,754Highest 84% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±25.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Johnson City are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1949Lowest 31 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Highest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 38% below U.S. |
19 min 30% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.7%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Johnson City 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 | — |
| School district | — | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.