Compare towns
Cambridge vs Olean vs Putney vs Castleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cambridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.9%).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Putney has the most people working from home (16.9%).
Castleton has the most homeowners (79%).
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 | Cambridge | Olean | Putney | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,767 |
13,738Highest |
2,622Lowest |
4,453 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.4±1.8 4% below U.S. |
39±2.6Highest about the U.S. average |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
| Olean and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Olean and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Castleton and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Putney and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,344±$19k 10% below U.S. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$79,706±$18kHighest about the U.S. average |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
| Putney and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $343,000±$38kHighest 3% above U.S. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
| Cambridge and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,183±$66Highest 16% below U.S. |
$794±$52 44% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
| Cambridge and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,910 57% above U.S. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$5,313Highest 70% above U.S. |
$3,167 about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.6%±7.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
16% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
18 min 32% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Putney and Cambridge 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 | #25 of 70 in VT | #337 of 484 in NY | #32 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Cambridge School District | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| 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 | 6 photos → | 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.