Compare towns

Castleton vs Olean vs Olean vs Sandgate

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 most expensive homes ($225k median).
Olean has the highest household income ($75k).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).

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.

MeasureCastletonOleanOleanSandgate
People
Population
4,453
1,664
13,738Highest
435Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
38.3±4.3Lowest
about the U.S. average
53.8±5.5
38% above U.S.
39±2.6
about the U.S. average
55.7±5.4Highest
43% above U.S.
Sandgate 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%
15.6%±4.5
U.S.: 22%
23.5%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
13.1%±7.5Lowest
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%
25.2%±5.1
U.S.: 17.2%
19.1%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
26%±11.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Sandgate 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%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
23.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
29.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
37.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
19.3%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.5%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
3.6%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
2.3%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$73,854±$23k
9% below U.S.
$74,583±$20kHighest
8% below U.S.
$51,261±$7kLowest
37% below U.S.
$69,167±$19k
14% below U.S.
Olean 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±$71kHighest
32% below U.S.
$158,600±$17k
52% below U.S.
$86,100±$6kLowest
74% below U.S.
$193,800±$31k
42% below U.S.
Castleton and Sandgate 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.
$666±$334Lowest
53% below U.S.
$794±$52
44% below U.S.
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,167
about the U.S. average
$4,027Highest
29% above U.S.
$3,130
about the U.S. average
$2,778Lowest
11% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
67.7%±21.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
57.1%±25.5
U.S.: 51.1%
52%±9.1
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
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%
16.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
26.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
9.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79%
U.S.: 65.2%
77.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
55.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974Highest
6 yrs older than U.S.
1962
18 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1959
21 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 min
27% below U.S.
19 min
30% below U.S.
14 minLowest
45% below U.S.
27 minHighest
3% above U.S.
Work from home
6.2%±3.9
U.S.: 15.1%
5.8%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
8.4%±2.6
U.S.: 15.1%
34.6%±32.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Sandgate 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 #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.