Compare towns
Berlin vs Middlesex vs Olean vs Wright
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($159k median).
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 | Middlesex | Olean | Wright |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880Highest |
1,943 |
1,664Lowest |
1,739 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4 30% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
53.8±5.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
| Olean and Wright 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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Wright are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Olean 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% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex 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±$21k 7% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$74,583±$20kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$86,250±$13k 7% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,600±$31k 18% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$158,600±$17kLowest 52% below U.S. |
$242,000±$36k 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$666±$334Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$953±$79 33% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418 42% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$4,027Lowest 29% above U.S. |
$5,279 69% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±25.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.6%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Olean and Berlin 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% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 20% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #16 of 70 in VT | — | #337 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | — |
| 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.