Compare towns
Brighton vs Olean vs Bellows Falls vs Ludlow
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 most renters (49.3% rent).
Ludlow has the most expensive homes ($304k 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 | Bellows Falls | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,167 |
13,738Highest |
2,891 |
808Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-12.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7% 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. |
48.7±5.6Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Ludlow 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% |
13.1%±3.7Lowest 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% |
30.4%±0.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ludlow 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest 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±$2k 31% below U.S. |
$56,667±$19kHighest 30% below U.S. |
| Ludlow 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. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$195,600±$35k 41% below U.S. |
$304,000±$32kHighest 9% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $775±$33Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$794±$52 44% below U.S. |
$1,038±$109Highest 27% below U.S. |
$1,018±$91 28% below U.S. |
| Bellows Falls and Ludlow 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. |
$4,237 36% 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% |
33%±13.8Lowest 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% |
8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 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. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
20 min 24% below U.S. |
21 min 20% below U.S. |
| 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% |
17.3%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ludlow 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 | — | — |
| 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.