Compare towns
Brighton vs Newark vs Olean vs Bellows Falls
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.5%).
Olean has the oldest population (median age 53.8).
Bellows Falls has the most kids (22.6% 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 | Newark | Olean | Bellows Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,167 |
727Lowest |
1,664 |
2,891Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-12.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.2±11.6 16% above U.S. |
41.4±6 6% above U.S. |
53.8±5.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
41.3±6.7Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Olean 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% |
22%±3 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bellows Falls and Newark 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% |
19.9%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.7%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brighton and Olean 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% |
41%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bellows Falls and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $47,375±$21kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$72,929±$7k 10% below U.S. |
$74,583±$20kHighest 8% below U.S. |
$56,086±$2k 31% below U.S. |
| Olean and Newark 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. |
$229,900±$23kHighest 31% below U.S. |
$158,600±$17kLowest 52% below U.S. |
$195,600±$35k 41% below U.S. |
| Newark and Bellows Falls 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. |
$1,708±$97Highest 21% above U.S. |
$666±$334Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$1,038±$109 27% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,360Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$3,771 21% above U.S. |
$4,027 29% above U.S. |
$4,448Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
7.1%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±25.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.9%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Olean 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% |
22.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
25.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
20 min 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.4%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±8.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newark and Brighton 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 | Brighton School District | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | — |
| 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.