Compare towns
Calais vs Middlesex vs Olean vs Marshfield
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%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Olean has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Marshfield has the youngest population (median age 38.7).
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 | Middlesex | Olean | Marshfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713 |
1,943Highest |
1,664Lowest |
1,863 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42±8.6 8% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
53.8±5.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
38.7±6.1Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Olean 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% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.2%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Marshfield 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% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Olean 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% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4 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. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$74,583±$20k 8% below U.S. |
$60,313±$10kLowest 25% below 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. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$158,600±$17kLowest 52% below U.S. |
$214,100±$37k 36% below 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 |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$666±$334Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$1,317±$126 7% 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. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$4,027 29% above U.S. |
$3,668Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±25.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
65.7%±73.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Marshfield 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% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.5%±7.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Marshfield 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | — |
| 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.