Compare towns
Strafford 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
Strafford has the highest household income ($111k).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($159k 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 | Strafford | Reading | Olean |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,372 |
699Lowest |
1,664Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Lowest 31% above U.S. |
53.8±5.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Olean and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19k 5% above U.S. |
$74,583±$20kLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Strafford and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
$158,600±$17kLowest 52% below U.S. |
| Strafford and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$789Highest 20% below U.S. |
$1,100±$331 22% below U.S. |
$666±$334Lowest 53% below U.S. |
| Strafford and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$5,754 84% above U.S. |
$4,027Lowest 29% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±25.5 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 | 5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Strafford 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 | Strafford School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.