Compare towns
Berlin vs Olean vs Putney
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%).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($159k median).
Putney has the most people working from home (16.9%).
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 | Berlin | Olean | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880Highest |
1,664Lowest |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4 30% above U.S. |
53.8±5.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Olean and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Berlin and Olean 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% |
25.2%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest 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% |
23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,691±$21kHighest 7% above U.S. |
$74,583±$20kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
| Berlin and Putney 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. |
$158,600±$17kLowest 52% below U.S. |
$300,000±$44kHighest 10% below U.S. |
| Putney and Berlin 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. |
$666±$334 53% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Olean 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. |
$4,027Lowest 29% above U.S. |
$5,313Highest 70% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±25.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Olean and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
16% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minHighest 20% below U.S. |
19 min 30% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Putney 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 | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 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.