Compare towns
Brasher vs Hinsdale vs Olean vs Gaines
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brasher has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).
Olean has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Gaines has the most people working from home (13.6%).
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 | Brasher | Hinsdale | Olean | Gaines |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,592 |
2,187Lowest |
13,738Highest |
3,216 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-2.5% NY: +4.2% |
-3.6% NY: +4.2% |
-4.5%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 46.6±9Highest 17% above NY |
44±5.2 11% above NY |
39±2.6Lowest about the NY average |
45.5±4.4 14% above NY |
| Brasher and Gaines are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±6.2 NY: 20.5% |
22.6%±5 NY: 20.5% |
23.5%±2.9Highest NY: 20.5% |
14.8%±5.4Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Olean and Hinsdale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.5%±5 NY: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.6 NY: 17.9% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest NY: 17.9% |
24.9%±6.5Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Gaines and Brasher are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 10.6% NY: 40.2% |
9.4%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
29.9%Highest NY: 40.2% |
14.4% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 NY: 7% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest NY: 7% |
3.6%±1.1 NY: 7% |
8.2%±3.8Highest NY: 7% |
| Gaines and Brasher are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,911±$14k 37% below NY |
$56,146±$10k 35% below NY |
$51,261±$7kLowest 40% below NY |
$56,582±$8kHighest 34% below NY |
| Gaines and Hinsdale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $124,300±$24k 71% below NY |
$91,200±$8k 78% below NY |
$86,100±$6kLowest 80% below NY |
$125,800±$19kHighest 70% below NY |
| Gaines and Brasher are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $730±$195Lowest 55% below NY |
$922±$375Highest 43% below NY |
$794±$52 51% below NY |
$922±$72Highest 43% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,500 62% below NY |
$1,775Lowest 73% below NY |
$3,130 52% below NY |
$3,157Highest 52% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.3%±27.2Highest NY: 52.1% |
19.6%±18.7 NY: 52.1% |
52%±9.1 NY: 52.1% |
18.4%±16.2Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Brasher and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 22.4% NY: 14% |
18.2% NY: 14% |
26.7%Highest NY: 14% |
10.6%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.4%Highest NY: 54.3% |
74.7% NY: 54.3% |
55.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
74.6% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 19 yrs newer than NY |
1977 18 yrs newer than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1975 16 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 37% below NY |
22 min 34% below NY |
14 minLowest 56% below NY |
28 minHighest 13% below NY |
| Work from home | 1.9%±1.8Lowest NY: 14.9% |
8.1%±5.5 NY: 14.9% |
8.4%±2.6 NY: 14.9% |
13.6%±6.6Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Gaines 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 | #300 of 484 in NY | — | #337 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | BRASHER FALLS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NY 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.