Compare towns
Barton vs Brighton vs Olean vs Whiting
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barton has the most people working from home (16.5%).
Brighton has the oldest population (median age 45.2).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Whiting has the highest household income ($91k).
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 | Barton | Brighton | Olean | Whiting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 730 |
1,167 |
13,738Highest |
532Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 40±5.5 about the U.S. average |
45.2±11.6Highest 16% above U.S. |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
39.6±2.7 about the U.S. average |
| Brighton and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Barton and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brighton and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Whiting and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $40,833±$8kLowest 49% below U.S. |
$47,375±$21k 41% below U.S. |
$51,261±$7k 37% below U.S. |
$91,250±$38kHighest 13% above U.S. |
| Whiting and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $146,900±$30k 56% below U.S. |
$163,900±$39k 51% below U.S. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$280,400±$36kHighest 16% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $761±$150Lowest 46% below U.S. |
$775±$33 45% below U.S. |
$794±$52 44% below U.S. |
$1,204±$519Highest 15% below U.S. |
| Whiting and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,185 about the U.S. average |
$3,360 8% above U.S. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,227Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±18.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.3%±37.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barton and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 25.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
22% U.S.: 12.5% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
65.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.4%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barton and Brighton 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 | #38 of 70 in VT | — | #337 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | — | Brighton School District | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| 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.