What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bristol has the most expensive homes ($337k median).

Olean has the most kids (23.5% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bristol	Olean
People
Population	3,778Lowest	13,738Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	47.9±4.8Highest 23% above U.S.	39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average
Kids under 18	12.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22%	23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	21.9%±4.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Bristol and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.2%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Bristol and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$74,620±$8kHighest 8% below U.S.	$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$337,300±$46kHighest about the U.S. average	$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,275±$181Highest 10% below U.S.	$794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,978Highest 92% above U.S.	$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.9%±14.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	52%±9.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Olean and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S.	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest 7% below U.S.	14 minLowest 45% below U.S.
Work from home	17.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#31 of 70 in VT	#337 of 484 in NY
School district	Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61	OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	Mt. Abraham Union High School	OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Lowest	12.2Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.