Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Cavendish vs Fairlee vs Olean
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bridgewater has the most homeowners (85.4%).
Cavendish has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.8%).
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.
| Measure | Bridgewater | Cavendish | Fairlee | Olean |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 980Lowest |
1,242 |
1,066 |
13,738Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57.1±8Highest 47% above U.S. |
45.2±5.9 16% above U.S. |
56.2±8.7 44% above U.S. |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Bridgewater and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
12.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Olean and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.2%±0.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.6%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Fairlee and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bridgewater and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,272±$3k 13% below U.S. |
$89,063±$29kHighest 10% above U.S. |
$74,760±$10k 7% below U.S. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Cavendish and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $218,300±$55k 34% below U.S. |
$285,100±$40kHighest 14% below U.S. |
$274,200±$39k 18% below U.S. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
| Cavendish and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $850±$778 40% below U.S. |
$1,000±$546 29% below U.S. |
$1,083±$242Highest 23% below U.S. |
$794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S. |
| Fairlee and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,418 10% above U.S. |
$3,948 27% above U.S. |
$5,617Highest 80% above U.S. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±39.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
28.9%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
89.2%±71.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fairlee and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below U.S. |
19 min 30% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 8% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Cavendish and Fairlee 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 | — | — | — | #337 of 484 in NY |
| School district | — | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Rivendell Interstate School District | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | None 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 | 18 photos → | 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.