Compare towns

Olean vs Peacham 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 most affordable homes ($86k median).
Peacham has the highest household income ($90k).
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.

MeasureOleanPeachamReading
People
Population
13,738Highest
887
699Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39±2.6Lowest
about the U.S. average
50.1±5.7
29% above U.S.
51.1±7.6Highest
31% above U.S.
Reading and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
23.5%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
20.7%±6
U.S.: 22%
18.5%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Olean and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.1%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
33.6%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
28.2%±3.3
U.S.: 17.2%
Peacham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
29.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
46%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.6%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.1%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Peacham and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$51,261±$7kLowest
37% below U.S.
$90,000±$28kHighest
11% above U.S.
$85,000±$19k
5% above U.S.
Peacham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$86,100±$6kLowest
74% below U.S.
$302,000±$64k
9% below U.S.
$377,200±$72kHighest
13% above U.S.
Reading and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$794±$52Lowest
44% below U.S.
$1,028±$248
27% below U.S.
$1,100±$331Highest
22% below U.S.
Reading and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,130Lowest
about the U.S. average
$5,605
80% above U.S.
$5,754Highest
84% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52%±9.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
66.7%±17.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
63.3%±31.7
U.S.: 51.1%
Peacham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
26.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
55.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
76.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
84.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1969
11 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
14 minLowest
45% below U.S.
31 min
17% above U.S.
33 minHighest
25% above U.S.
Work from home
8.4%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
24.2%±16.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.9%±10.6
U.S.: 15.1%
Peacham and Reading 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 OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT Peacham School District Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76
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

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.