Compare towns
Olean vs Whitingham 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
Olean has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Whitingham has the youngest population (median age 46.4).
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 | Olean | Whitingham | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,664Highest |
1,368 |
699Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±5.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
46.4±7.1Lowest 19% 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 | 15.6%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Whitingham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.1%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Whitingham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Reading and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,583±$20k 8% below U.S. |
$70,625±$11kLowest 13% 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 | $158,600±$17kLowest 52% below U.S. |
$262,300±$30k 21% below U.S. |
$377,200±$72kHighest 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $666±$334Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$673±$150 52% below U.S. |
$1,100±$331Highest 22% below U.S. |
| Reading and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,027Lowest 29% above U.S. |
$5,055 62% above U.S. |
$5,754Highest 84% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±25.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.7%±47.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 5.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Whitingham 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 | — | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | — | Twin Valley Middle High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.8 |
— |
| 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.