Compare towns
Reading vs West Windsor vs Olean vs West Fairlee
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%).
West Windsor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+22.3%).
Olean has the shortest commute (19 min average).
West Fairlee has the youngest population (median age 50.3).
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 | West Windsor | Olean | West Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699Lowest |
1,171 |
1,664Highest |
711 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+22.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 31% above U.S. |
54±5.9Highest 39% above U.S. |
53.8±5.5 38% above U.S. |
50.3±7.6Lowest 29% above U.S. |
| West Windsor and Olean 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% |
19.8%±10Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±5.1Lowest 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% |
25.5%±6.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.7Highest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±3.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| West Windsor 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±$19k 5% above U.S. |
$108,750±$18kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$74,583±$20kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$76,500±$16k 5% 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. |
$393,500±$41kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$158,600±$17kLowest 52% below U.S. |
$237,200±$35k 29% 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±$331 22% below U.S. |
$1,100±$217 22% below U.S. |
$666±$334Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$1,113±$171Highest 21% below U.S. |
| West Fairlee and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,754 84% above U.S. |
$5,860Highest 88% above U.S. |
$4,027Lowest 29% above U.S. |
$5,210 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±25.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
50%±89.6 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.8%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.5%±5.1Lowest 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 | — | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None 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.