Compare towns

Barnard vs Calais 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

Barnard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Calais has the most people working from home (23.4%).
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.

MeasureBarnardCalaisOlean
People
Population
1,211Lowest
1,713
13,738Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.4±6Highest
9% above U.S.
42±8.6
8% above U.S.
39±2.6Lowest
about the U.S. average
Barnard and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
26.9%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
22.5%±5.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.5%±2.9
U.S.: 22%
Barnard and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.6%±5.2
U.S.: 17.2%
19.1%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Barnard and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
55.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
55.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
29.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.4%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
7.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.6%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
Calais and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$97,581±$19k
21% above U.S.
$100,625±$27kHighest
25% above U.S.
$51,261±$7kLowest
37% below U.S.
Calais and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$402,600±$71kHighest
21% above U.S.
$390,300±$36k
17% above U.S.
$86,100±$6kLowest
74% below U.S.
Barnard and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,372±$80
about the U.S. average
$1,408±$392Highest
about the U.S. average
$794±$52Lowest
44% below U.S.
Calais and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,038
94% above U.S.
$6,586Highest
111% above U.S.
$3,130Lowest
about the U.S. average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
27%±19.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
49%±38.3
U.S.: 51.1%
52%±9.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Olean and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
26.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
92.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
55.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
8% above U.S.
31 minHighest
18% above U.S.
14 minLowest
45% below U.S.
Work from home
19.3%±10.8
U.S.: 15.1%
23.4%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
8.4%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Calais and Barnard 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 Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town None 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.