Compare towns
Benson vs Olean vs Orwell vs Fair Haven
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 most people working from home (18.6%).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Orwell has the most expensive homes ($336k median).
Fair Haven has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
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 | Benson | Olean | Orwell | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784Lowest |
13,738Highest |
1,294 |
2,724 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 33% above U.S. |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
47.5±7 22% above U.S. |
39.2±7.6 about the U.S. average |
| Benson and Orwell 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% |
21.8%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Olean and Orwell 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% |
24%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Benson and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8kHighest about the U.S. average |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$70,417±$22k 13% below U.S. |
$62,404±$16k 23% below U.S. |
| Benson and Orwell 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. |
$335,600±$25kHighest about the U.S. average |
$176,500±$14k 47% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170Highest 21% below U.S. |
$794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$1,105±$51 22% below U.S. |
$830±$116 41% below U.S. |
| Benson and Orwell 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 |
$3,914 25% above U.S. |
$3,865 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±35.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.9%±20.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Orwell and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Benson and Orwell 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 | — | #66 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 12 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.