Compare towns

Reading vs Olean vs Hadley

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).
Hadley has the oldest population (median age 54.1).

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.

MeasureReadingOleanHadley
People
Population
699Lowest
13,738Highest
2,074
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.6%Lowest
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
54.1±3Highest
39% above U.S.
Hadley 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%
14.4%±3Lowest
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%
19.1%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
26.1%±4.6
U.S.: 17.2%
Reading and Hadley 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
25%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.1%±2.5
U.S.: 6.4%
3.6%±1.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.1%±1.8Lowest
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±$19kHighest
5% above U.S.
$51,261±$7kLowest
37% below U.S.
$73,750±$32k
9% below U.S.
Reading and Hadley 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.
$194,200±$30k
42% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,100±$331Highest
22% below U.S.
$794±$52Lowest
44% below U.S.
$900±$293
36% below U.S.
Reading and Hadley 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.
$3,130
about the U.S. average
$2,375Lowest
24% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
63.3%±31.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
52%±9.1
U.S.: 51.1%
44.3%±17Lowest
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%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
26.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
55.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
83.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1969
11 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1972Highest
8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
25% above U.S.
14 minLowest
45% below U.S.
31 min
19% above U.S.
Work from home
22.9%±10.6
U.S.: 15.1%
8.4%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
24.2%±23.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Hadley 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 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.