Compare towns
Whitingham 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
Whitingham has the most homeowners (85.2%).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
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 | Whitingham | Reading | Olean |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,368 |
699Lowest |
13,738Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±7.1 19% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Reading and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±2.9Highest 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+ | 31.1%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Whitingham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.9Lowest 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 | $70,625±$11k 13% below U.S. |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above U.S. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Reading and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $262,300±$30k 21% below U.S. |
$377,200±$72kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $673±$150Lowest 52% below U.S. |
$1,100±$331Highest 22% below U.S. |
$794±$52 44% below U.S. |
| Reading and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,055 62% above U.S. |
$5,754Highest 84% above U.S. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.7%±47.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1Lowest 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 | 15.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.7%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Whitingham 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 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | Twin Valley Middle High School | None in town | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.8Lowest |
— | 12.2Highest |
| 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.