Compare towns

Brookline vs Olean vs Westminster vs Windham

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).
Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k 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.

MeasureBrooklineOleanWestminsterWindham
People
Population
531Lowest
13,738Highest
2,999
594
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%
—
Median age
45.1±2.7
16% above U.S.
39±2.6Lowest
about the U.S. average
53.5±3.7Highest
38% above U.S.
44.2±7.4
14% above U.S.
Kids under 18
20%±6
U.S.: 22%
23.5%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.2%±4.7
U.S.: 22%
17.5%±7.9Lowest
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%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
27.6%±6.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
23.2%±8.1
U.S.: 17.2%
Westminster and Windham 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%
48.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.2%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
3.6%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
4.4%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
0.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Westminster and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$80,833±$16k
about the U.S. average
$51,261±$7kLowest
37% below U.S.
$71,491±$4k
11% below U.S.
$94,500±$12kHighest
17% above U.S.
Windham and Brookline 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.
$353,900±$20kHighest
6% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,732±$232Highest
23% above U.S.
$794±$52Lowest
44% below U.S.
$916±$126
35% 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.
$5,951Highest
91% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.8%±94.7
U.S.: 51.1%
52%±9.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
49.2%±7.5
U.S.: 51.1%
41.2%±94Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Olean and Westminster 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%
9.9%
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%
82.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer 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.
27 min
about the U.S. average
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%
20.5%±5.6
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 —
School district — OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District —
High school in town — OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL Bellows Falls Union High School —
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.2Highest
10.6Lowest
—
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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.