Compare towns
Reading vs Olean vs West Fairlee vs Wardsboro
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).
West Fairlee has the most homeowners (91.9%).
Wardsboro has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
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 Fairlee | Wardsboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699Lowest |
13,738Highest |
711 |
820 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 31% above U.S. |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
50.3±7.6 29% above U.S. |
51.6±7.3Highest 33% above U.S. |
| Wardsboro 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% |
13.5%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Olean and Wardsboro 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%±6.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| West Fairlee 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% |
44.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9% 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% |
2.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest 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. |
$76,500±$16k 5% below U.S. |
$62,000±$6k 23% below U.S. |
| Reading and West Fairlee 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. |
$237,200±$35k 29% below U.S. |
$299,300±$47k 10% below U.S. |
| Reading and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$331 22% below U.S. |
$794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$1,113±$171 21% below U.S. |
$1,479±$224Highest 5% above U.S. |
| Wardsboro and West Fairlee 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 |
$5,210 67% above U.S. |
$4,345 39% 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% |
50%±89.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.5%±58 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Wardsboro 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% |
7.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.5%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Wardsboro 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 | Rivendell Interstate School District | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| High school in town | None in town | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2 |
— | — |
| 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.