Compare towns
Calais vs Middlesex vs Olean
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 most affordable homes ($86k 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.
| Measure | Calais | Middlesex | Olean |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,713Lowest |
1,943 |
13,738Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42±8.6 8% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Middlesex and Calais 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%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±2.9Highest 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%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Calais and Middlesex 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% |
29.9%Lowest 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% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest 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. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% 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. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% 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. |
$794±$52Lowest 44% 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. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Olean and Calais 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% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.2 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.