Compare towns
Brookline vs Olean vs Westminster vs Putney
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
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 | Brookline | Olean | Westminster | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531Lowest |
13,738Highest |
2,999 |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 16% above U.S. |
39±2.6 about the U.S. average |
53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Olean and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16kHighest about the U.S. average |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$71,491±$4k 11% below U.S. |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
| Brookline and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $290,700±$37k 13% below U.S. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$273,800±$35k 18% below U.S. |
$300,000±$44kHighest 10% below U.S. |
| Putney and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S. |
$794±$52 44% below U.S. |
$916±$126 35% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000 60% above U.S. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,063 30% above U.S. |
$5,313Highest 70% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
16% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
18 min 32% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Westminster and Brookline 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 | #53 of 70 in VT | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | — | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | Bellows Falls Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2Highest |
10.6Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.