Compare towns
Brighton vs Hadley vs Olean vs Barton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brighton has the most renters (48.9% rent).
Hadley has the most homeowners (83.7%).
Olean has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Barton has the most kids (24.1% under 18).
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 | Brighton | Hadley | Olean | Barton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,167 |
2,074 |
13,738Highest |
730Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.2±11.6 16% above U.S. |
54.1±3Highest 39% above U.S. |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
40±5.5 about the U.S. average |
| Hadley and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
24.1%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Barton and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.2%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brighton and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
25% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brighton and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $47,375±$21k 41% below U.S. |
$73,750±$32kHighest 9% below U.S. |
$51,261±$7k 37% below U.S. |
$40,833±$8kLowest 49% below U.S. |
| Hadley and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $163,900±$39k 51% below U.S. |
$194,200±$30kHighest 42% below U.S. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$146,900±$30k 56% below U.S. |
| Hadley and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $775±$33 45% below U.S. |
$900±$293Highest 36% below U.S. |
$794±$52 44% below U.S. |
$761±$150Lowest 46% below U.S. |
| Hadley and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,360Highest 8% above U.S. |
$2,375Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$3,130 about the U.S. average |
$3,185 about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.8%±18.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barton and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 22% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
25.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1945 35 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
31 min 19% above U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.4%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.2%±23.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.5%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hadley and Barton 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 | #38 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Brighton 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 |
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.