Compare towns
Castleton vs Jay 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
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
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 | Castleton | Jay | Olean |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453 |
471Lowest |
13,738Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
39±2.6 about the U.S. average |
| Jay and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Olean and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.5 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+ | 37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$74,792±$25kHighest 7% below U.S. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Jay and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$234,200±$45kHighest 30% below U.S. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
| Jay and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Highest 20% below U.S. |
— | $794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167 about the U.S. average |
$3,588Highest 15% above U.S. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #39 of 70 in VT | — | #337 of 484 in NY |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | 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.