Compare towns
Reading vs Whitingham vs Olean vs Woodstock
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%).
Whitingham has the most homeowners (85.2%).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Woodstock has the most expensive homes ($582k median).
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 | Whitingham | Olean | Woodstock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699Lowest |
1,368 |
13,738Highest |
3,027 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 31% above U.S. |
46.4±7.1 19% above U.S. |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
56±3.6Highest 44% above U.S. |
| Woodstock 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% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Olean and Whitingham 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% |
31.1%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
32.7%±5.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Woodstock and Whitingham 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% |
32.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest 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±$19k 5% above U.S. |
$70,625±$11k 13% below U.S. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$120,938±$29kHighest 50% above U.S. |
| Woodstock 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. |
$262,300±$30k 21% below U.S. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$582,000±$84kHighest 75% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$331 22% below U.S. |
$673±$150Lowest 52% below U.S. |
$794±$52 44% below U.S. |
$1,430±$346Highest about the U.S. average |
| Woodstock 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. |
$5,055 62% above U.S. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$9,449Highest 203% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.7%±47.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.7%±17.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Whitingham 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% |
15.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.8%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Woodstock 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 | #10 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | Woodstock Union Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.8Lowest |
12.2Highest |
11.5 |
| 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.