Compare towns
Sharon vs Reading vs Olean
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sharon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k 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 | Sharon | Reading | Olean |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,577 |
699Lowest |
13,738Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7 17% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Reading and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Olean and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.1%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Highest 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 | $84,375±$17k 5% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above U.S. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Reading and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$37k 4% above U.S. |
$377,200±$72kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
| Reading and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$155Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,100±$331 22% below U.S. |
$794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S. |
| Sharon and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,903Highest 89% above U.S. |
$5,754 84% above U.S. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.8%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1 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 | 3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Sharon 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 | Sharon School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | None 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.