Compare towns
Reading vs Olean vs Cavendish 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Cavendish has the highest household income ($89k).
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 | Cavendish | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699Lowest |
13,738Highest |
1,242 |
980 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 31% above U.S. |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.2±5.9 16% above U.S. |
57.1±8Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Bridgewater 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% |
23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±5.8Lowest 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%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.6%±2 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bridgewater and Cavendish 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. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$89,063±$29kHighest 10% above U.S. |
$70,272±$3k 13% below U.S. |
| Cavendish 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. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$285,100±$40k 14% below U.S. |
$218,300±$55k 34% below U.S. |
| Reading and Cavendish 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. |
$794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$1,000±$546 29% below U.S. |
$850±$778 40% below U.S. |
| Reading and Cavendish 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. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,948 27% above U.S. |
$3,418 10% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
28.9%±27Lowest 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% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
19 min 30% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Cavendish 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 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 18 photos → | 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.