Compare towns
Brandon vs Olean vs Pittsford 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
Brandon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Pittsford has the highest household income ($70k).
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 | Brandon | Olean | Pittsford | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,120 |
13,738Highest |
2,892Lowest |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1Highest 29% above U.S. |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
47.7±6.3 23% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
| Brandon and Chester 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% |
15.1%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest 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% |
25.4%±6.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester and Pittsford 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% |
37%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester and Olean 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. |
$69,705±$7kHighest 14% below U.S. |
$62,125±$8k 23% below U.S. |
| Pittsford 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±$23k 32% below U.S. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$197,000±$33k 41% below U.S. |
$232,900±$44kHighest 30% below U.S. |
| Chester and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,064±$225Highest 25% below U.S. |
$794±$52 44% below U.S. |
$781±$167Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$960±$44 32% below U.S. |
| Brandon and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,241 36% above U.S. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,378 8% above U.S. |
$4,262Highest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
18.5%±12.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.1%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chester and Pittsford 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 | #54 of 70 in VT | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | Otter Valley Union High School | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9 |
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.