Compare towns
Brighton vs Olean vs Bellows Falls vs Charleston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Bellows Falls has the highest household income ($56k).
Charleston has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.2%).
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 | Bellows Falls | Charleston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,167 |
13,738Highest |
2,891 |
936Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-12.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.2±11.6 16% above U.S. |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.3±6.7 6% above U.S. |
58.4±9.3Highest 50% above U.S. |
| Charleston 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% |
23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
11.2%±4.2Lowest 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%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.7%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
37.7%±8.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Charleston and Brighton 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% |
29.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
13.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.3 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. |
$51,261±$7k 37% below U.S. |
$56,086±$2kHighest 31% below U.S. |
$49,286±$17k 39% below U.S. |
| Bellows Falls 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. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$195,600±$35k 41% below U.S. |
$238,000±$53kHighest 28% below U.S. |
| Charleston and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $775±$33Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$794±$52 44% below U.S. |
$1,038±$109Highest 27% below U.S. |
$979±$444 31% below U.S. |
| Bellows Falls and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,360 8% above U.S. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,448Highest 43% above U.S. |
$3,750 20% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±17Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.9%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±26.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brighton and Olean 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% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
25.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
20 min 24% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 12.4%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Charleston 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 | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | Charleston School District |
| High school in town | None in town | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — | None in town |
| 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.