Compare towns
Bakersfield vs Olean vs Waterford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Olean has the most affordable homes ($159k median).
Waterford has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.9%).
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 | Bakersfield | Olean | Waterford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,109Lowest |
1,664Highest |
1,279 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±8 19% above U.S. |
53.8±5.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
45.4±5.3Lowest 17% above U.S. |
| Olean and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Waterford and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Olean and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bakersfield and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,462±$18k 3% above U.S. |
$74,583±$20kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$109,375±$19kHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Waterford and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,300±$19k 18% below U.S. |
$158,600±$17kLowest 52% below U.S. |
$271,500±$22kHighest 18% below U.S. |
| Waterford and Bakersfield 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. |
$666±$334Lowest 53% below U.S. |
— |
| Bakersfield and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,823Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$4,027 29% above U.S. |
$4,238Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.8%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±25.5Highest 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% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
99%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±7 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.3%±7.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Waterford and Bakersfield 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 | — | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| 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.