Compare towns
Benson vs Olean vs Cavendish vs Waterville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Benson has the oldest population (median age 51.9).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Cavendish has the most expensive homes ($285k median).
Waterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
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 | Benson | Olean | Cavendish | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
13,738Highest |
1,242 |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 33% above U.S. |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.2±5.9 16% above U.S. |
49.1±8.2 26% above U.S. |
| Benson and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±8.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Olean and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.6%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Benson and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$89,063±$29kHighest 10% above U.S. |
$71,250±$27k 12% below U.S. |
| Cavendish and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26k 27% below U.S. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$285,100±$40kHighest 14% below U.S. |
$236,300±$15k 29% below U.S. |
| Cavendish and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170Highest 21% below U.S. |
$794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$1,000±$546 29% below U.S. |
$1,110±$93 21% below U.S. |
| Benson and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125Highest 32% above U.S. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,948 27% above U.S. |
$3,957 27% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
28.9%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±27.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Benson and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
19 min 30% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Benson and Cavendish 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 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | None in town | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 18 photos → | 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.