Compare towns
Calais vs Olean vs Barnard vs Grand Isle
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 the most people working from home (23.4%).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Barnard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Grand Isle has the oldest population (median age 43.3).
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 | Olean | Barnard | Grand Isle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713 |
13,738Highest |
1,211Lowest |
2,192 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42±8.6 8% above U.S. |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.4±6 9% above U.S. |
43.3±2.6Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Grand Isle and Barnard 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% |
23.5%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Barnard and Olean 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% |
19.1%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barnard 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% |
29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Olean 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. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$97,581±$19k 21% above U.S. |
$100,846±$22kHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Grand Isle 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±$36k 17% above U.S. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$402,600±$71kHighest 21% above U.S. |
$398,600±$33k 20% above U.S. |
| Barnard and Grand Isle 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 |
$794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$1,372±$80 about the U.S. average |
$1,363±$530 4% below U.S. |
| Calais and Barnard 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. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$6,038 94% above U.S. |
$5,453 75% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Olean and Grand Isle 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% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±10.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Calais and Barnard 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 | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Champlain Islands Unified Union School District #66 |
| High school in town | None in town | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2 |
— | — |
| 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.