Compare towns
Brandon vs Olean vs Derby
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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).
Derby has the highest household income ($80k).
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 | Brandon | Olean | Derby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,120Lowest |
13,738Highest |
4,537 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1 29% above U.S. |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
51.6±2.1Highest 33% above U.S. |
| Derby and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±3.6Lowest 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%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Derby and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.1Lowest 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±$12k 21% below U.S. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$80,250±$8kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Derby and Brandon 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. |
$225,000±$10k 32% below U.S. |
| Brandon and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,064±$225 25% below U.S. |
$794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$1,096±$118Highest 22% below U.S. |
| Derby and Brandon 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 |
$3,449 11% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.8%±18.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Olean and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Derby and Brandon 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 | #52 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District |
| High school in town | Otter Valley Union High School | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Lowest |
12.2Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.