Compare towns
Bakersfield vs Olean vs Waterville vs Belvidere
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%).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Waterville has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
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 | Waterville | Belvidere |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,109 |
13,738Highest |
680 |
422Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 46.4±8 19% above U.S. |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
49.1±8.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
40.7±6.5 5% above U.S. |
| Waterville 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% |
23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±8.2 U.S.: 22% |
22%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Olean and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.4%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
8.8%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bakersfield and Olean 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% |
29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bakersfield and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $83,462±$18kHighest 3% above U.S. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$71,250±$27k 12% below U.S. |
$81,563±$18k about the U.S. average |
| Bakersfield and Belvidere 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. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$236,300±$15k 29% below U.S. |
$239,200±$51k 28% below U.S. |
| Bakersfield and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$327 15% below U.S. |
$794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$1,110±$93 21% below U.S. |
$1,542±$1kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Belvidere and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,823 23% above U.S. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,957Highest 27% above U.S. |
$3,908 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.8%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±27.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±53.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Belvidere and Olean 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% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bakersfield and Belvidere 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 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | — |
| High school in town | None in town | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.