Compare towns
Brighton vs Olean 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
Brighton has the most people working from home (12.4%).
Olean has the most homeowners (77.9%).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Bellows Falls has the most expensive homes ($196k 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 | Brighton | Olean | Olean | Bellows Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,167Lowest |
1,664 |
13,738Highest |
2,891 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-12.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.2±11.6 16% above U.S. |
53.8±5.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.3±6.7 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% |
15.6%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Olean and Bellows Falls 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% |
25.2%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest 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% |
23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 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. |
$74,583±$20kHighest 8% below U.S. |
$51,261±$7k 37% below U.S. |
$56,086±$2k 31% below U.S. |
| Olean and Bellows Falls 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. |
$158,600±$17k 52% below U.S. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$195,600±$35kHighest 41% below U.S. |
| Bellows Falls 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. |
$666±$334Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$794±$52 44% below U.S. |
$1,038±$109Highest 27% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,360 8% above U.S. |
$4,027 29% above U.S. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,448Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±25.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.9%±16.8Lowest 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% |
16.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
25.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
19 min 30% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
20 min 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.4%±8.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brighton 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 | — | #337 of 484 in NY | #337 of 484 in NY | — |
| 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.