Compare towns
Reading vs Olean vs West Windsor vs Bridgewater
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%).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($159k median).
West Windsor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+22.3%).
Bridgewater has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
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 | Reading | Olean | West Windsor | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699Lowest |
1,664Highest |
1,171 |
980 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+22.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6Lowest 31% above U.S. |
53.8±5.5 38% above U.S. |
54±5.9 39% above U.S. |
57.1±8Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Bridgewater and West Windsor 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% |
15.6%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±10Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| West Windsor and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±6.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.2%±0.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bridgewater and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±3.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±3.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| West Windsor and Bridgewater 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. |
$74,583±$20k 8% below U.S. |
$108,750±$18kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$70,272±$3kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| West Windsor 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±$72k 13% above U.S. |
$158,600±$17kLowest 52% below U.S. |
$393,500±$41kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$218,300±$55k 34% below U.S. |
| West Windsor and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$331Highest 22% below U.S. |
$666±$334Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$1,100±$217Highest 22% below U.S. |
$850±$778 40% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,754 84% above U.S. |
$4,027 29% above U.S. |
$5,860Highest 88% above U.S. |
$3,418Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±25.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.7%±39.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Bridgewater 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% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and West Windsor 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 | — | Mount Ascutney School District #86 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | — |
| 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.