What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brandon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).

Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Brandon	Olean
People
Population	4,120Lowest	13,738Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	50.1±3.1Highest 29% above U.S.	39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average
Kids under 18	19.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Olean and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Brandon and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.6%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Olean and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$64,180±$12kHighest 21% below U.S.	$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S.
	Brandon and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$227,800±$23kHighest 32% below U.S.	$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,064±$225Highest 25% below U.S.	$794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S.
	Brandon and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,241Highest 36% above U.S.	$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.7%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	52%±9.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Olean and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1951Highest 29 yrs older than U.S.	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 10% below U.S.	14 minLowest 45% below U.S.
Work from home	9.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Brandon and Olean 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	#69 of 70 in VT	#337 of 484 in NY
School district	Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53	OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	Otter Valley Union High School	OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	9.9Lowest	12.2Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.