Compare towns

Barnard vs Olean vs Westford

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%).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($159k median).
Westford has the highest household income ($113k).

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.

MeasureBarnardOleanWestford
People
Population
1,211Lowest
1,664
2,290Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.4±6Lowest
9% above U.S.
53.8±5.5Highest
38% above U.S.
44.1±8.6
13% above U.S.
Olean and Westford 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%
15.6%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
16.9%±4.6
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
22%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
25.2%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.2%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Olean and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
55.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
23.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
52.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.4%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.5%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
9.5%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$97,581±$19k
21% above U.S.
$74,583±$20kLowest
8% below U.S.
$112,750±$12kHighest
40% above U.S.
Westford 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±$71k
21% above U.S.
$158,600±$17kLowest
52% below U.S.
$424,500±$21kHighest
28% above U.S.
Westford and Barnard 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
$666±$334Lowest
53% below U.S.
$2,375±$1kHighest
68% above U.S.
Westford 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.
$4,027Lowest
29% above U.S.
$6,282Highest
101% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
27%±19.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
57.1%±25.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
29.8%±31
U.S.: 51.1%
Olean and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
16.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
77.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1962Lowest
18 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
8% above U.S.
19 minLowest
30% below U.S.
33 minHighest
26% above U.S.
Work from home
19.3%±10.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
5.8%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.1%±6.9
U.S.: 15.1%
Barnard and Westford 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 — Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51
High school in town None in town — None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet 6 photos →

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.