Compare towns

Reading vs Baltimore vs Olean

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Baltimore has the highest household income ($108k).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k 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.

MeasureReadingBaltimoreOlean
People
Population
699
361Lowest
13,738Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
-3.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
51.1±7.6
31% above U.S.
51.2±10.3Highest
32% above U.S.
39±2.6Lowest
about the U.S. average
Baltimore and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.5%±4.2
U.S.: 22%
8.9%±6.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.5%±2.9Highest
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+
28.2%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
14.7%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.1%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
46%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
25.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
29.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.1%±2.5
U.S.: 6.4%
2.2%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.6%±1.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Olean and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$85,000±$19k
5% above U.S.
$107,500±$16kHighest
33% above U.S.
$51,261±$7kLowest
37% below U.S.
Baltimore and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$377,200±$72kHighest
13% above U.S.
$219,400±$27k
34% below U.S.
$86,100±$6kLowest
74% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,100±$331Highest
22% below U.S.
—
$794±$52Lowest
44% below U.S.
Reading and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,754Highest
84% above U.S.
$4,329
39% above U.S.
$3,130Lowest
about the U.S. average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
63.3%±31.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
26.7%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52%±9.1
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
8.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
1.1%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
26.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
85.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
55.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1969
11 yrs older than U.S.
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
25% above U.S.
21 min
21% below U.S.
14 minLowest
45% below U.S.
Work from home
22.9%±10.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
9.8%±4.4
U.S.: 15.1%
8.4%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Reading and Baltimore 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 — OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town None in town — OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
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.