Compare towns

Reading vs Olean vs Stuyvesant

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).
Stuyvesant has the oldest population (median age 51.7).

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.

MeasureReadingOleanStuyvesant
People
Population
699Lowest
13,738Highest
2,009
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
51.1±7.6
31% above U.S.
39±2.6Lowest
about the U.S. average
51.7±6.1Highest
33% above U.S.
Stuyvesant 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%
17%±4.5Lowest
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%
29.7%±10.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Stuyvesant 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
20.2%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%
2.7%±1.9Lowest
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.
$66,000±$15k
18% below U.S.
Reading and Stuyvesant 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.
$224,400±$58k
33% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,100±$331Highest
22% below U.S.
$794±$52Lowest
44% below U.S.
$1,098±$119
22% below U.S.
Reading and Stuyvesant 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
$3,720
19% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
63.3%±31.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
52%±9.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
58.7%±22.4
U.S.: 51.1%
Reading and Stuyvesant 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%
12.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
55.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
76.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1969Highest
11 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1961
19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
25% above U.S.
14 minLowest
45% below U.S.
25 min
4% below U.S.
Work from home
22.9%±10.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
8.4%±2.6
U.S.: 15.1%
7.9%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
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.