Compare towns

Bakersfield vs Groton 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

Bakersfield has the most people working from home (14.2%).
Groton has the most homeowners (94.4%).
Olean has the most kids (23.5% under 18).

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.

MeasureBakersfieldGrotonOlean
People
Population
1,109
967Lowest
13,738Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
46.4±8Highest
19% above U.S.
45.7±5.8
17% above U.S.
39±2.6Lowest
about the U.S. average
Bakersfield and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
13.6%±3.5
U.S.: 22%
13.3%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.5%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
21.2%±3.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.5%±3
U.S.: 17.2%
19.1%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bakersfield and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
39.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
38.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
29.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.5%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
7.5%±5.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.6%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$83,462±$18kHighest
3% above U.S.
$77,250±$14k
4% below U.S.
$51,261±$7kLowest
37% below U.S.
Bakersfield and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$271,300±$19kHighest
18% below U.S.
$243,000±$70k
27% below U.S.
$86,100±$6kLowest
74% below U.S.
Bakersfield and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,200±$327Highest
15% below U.S.
$288±$151Lowest
80% below U.S.
$794±$52
44% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,823Highest
23% above U.S.
$3,659
17% above U.S.
$3,130Lowest
about the U.S. average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
18.8%±100
U.S.: 51.1%
12.5%±72.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52%±9.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Olean and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
26.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94%
U.S.: 65.2%
94.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
55.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
25% above U.S.
30 min
15% above U.S.
14 minLowest
45% below U.S.
Work from home
14.2%±7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.3%±7
U.S.: 15.1%
8.4%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Bakersfield and Groton 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 Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 — OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school 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.