Compare towns
Calais vs Gerry vs Olean vs Middlesex
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Gerry has the oldest population (median age 52.4).
Olean has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | Calais | Gerry | Olean | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713 |
1,668Lowest |
13,738Highest |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42±8.6 8% above U.S. |
52.4±5.7Highest 35% above U.S. |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
| Gerry and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Olean and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.9%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gerry and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
$68,667±$12k 15% below U.S. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,300±$36kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$119,200±$10k 64% below U.S. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
| Calais and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,138±$260 19% below U.S. |
$794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
| Calais and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
$2,606Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$3,130 about the U.S. average |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.2%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gerry and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Calais 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | CASSADAGA VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | CASSADAGA VALLEY MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7Lowest |
12.2Highest |
— |
| 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.