Compare towns
Castleton vs Johnson City vs Olean vs Ira
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 highest household income ($74k).
Johnson City has the most people working from home (9.7%).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Johnson City | Olean | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
14,940Highest |
13,738 |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
40.7±3.4 5% above U.S. |
39±2.6 about the U.S. average |
54.1±5.5Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.1%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest 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%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.9%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
9%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kHighest 9% below U.S. |
$56,283±$4k 30% below U.S. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$71,827±$5k 11% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Ira 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. |
$117,100±$4k 65% below U.S. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$272,900±$18kHighest 18% below U.S. |
| Ira 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. |
$1,031±$66 27% below U.S. |
$794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$942±$52 33% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Johnson City are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167 about the U.S. average |
$3,982 28% above U.S. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,146Highest 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Johnson City are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
19.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1949 31 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below U.S. |
17 min 38% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Johnson City and Olean 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | — | #337 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school 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 | 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.