Compare towns
Berlin vs Clarendon vs Olean vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.3%).
Clarendon has the oldest population (median age 52.3).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Chester has the most people working from home (14%).
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 | Berlin | Clarendon | Olean | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880 |
2,460Lowest |
13,738Highest |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4 30% above U.S. |
52.3±4.1Highest 34% above U.S. |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
| Clarendon and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Olean and Clarendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester and Clarendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,691±$21kHighest 7% above U.S. |
$59,609±$12k 26% below U.S. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$62,125±$8k 23% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,600±$31kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$220,900±$32k 34% below U.S. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$232,900±$44k 30% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171Highest 17% below U.S. |
$1,096±$305 22% below U.S. |
$794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$960±$44 32% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Clarendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418Highest 42% above U.S. |
$3,740 20% above U.S. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,262 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±27.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Olean and Clarendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 20% below U.S. |
16 min 40% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chester and Berlin 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 | #16 of 70 in VT | — | #337 of 484 in NY | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | None in town | Mill River Union High School | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.4 |
12.2Highest |
8.7Lowest |
| 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.