Compare towns

Cavendish vs Ludlow vs Olean 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

Cavendish has the highest household income ($89k).
Ludlow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Olean has the oldest population (median age 53.8).
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.

MeasureCavendishLudlowOleanOlean
People
Population
1,242Lowest
1,990
1,664
13,738Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.2±5.9
16% above U.S.
52.2±6.2
34% above U.S.
53.8±5.5Highest
38% above U.S.
39±2.6Lowest
about the U.S. average
Olean and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.3%±4.8
U.S.: 22%
14.1%±6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
15.6%±4.5
U.S.: 22%
23.5%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
Olean and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.6%±2
U.S.: 17.2%
31.1%±2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
25.2%±5.1
U.S.: 17.2%
19.1%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Ludlow and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
39.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
45.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
23.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
29.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.3%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
5.8%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.5%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.6%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
Ludlow and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$89,063±$29kHighest
10% above U.S.
$54,885±$14k
32% below U.S.
$74,583±$20k
8% below U.S.
$51,261±$7kLowest
37% below U.S.
Cavendish and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$285,100±$40k
14% below U.S.
$370,200±$46kHighest
11% above U.S.
$158,600±$17k
52% below U.S.
$86,100±$6kLowest
74% below U.S.
Ludlow and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,000±$546
29% below U.S.
$1,112±$151Highest
21% below U.S.
$666±$334Lowest
53% below U.S.
$794±$52
44% below U.S.
Ludlow and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,948
27% above U.S.
$4,890Highest
57% above U.S.
$4,027
29% above U.S.
$3,130Lowest
about the U.S. average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
28.9%±27Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
45.2%±25.2
U.S.: 51.1%
57.1%±25.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
52%±9.1
U.S.: 51.1%
Olean and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
16.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
26.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
77.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
55.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1962
18 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 min
30% below U.S.
20 minHighest
24% below U.S.
19 min
30% below U.S.
14 minLowest
45% below U.S.
Work from home
18.5%±6.6
U.S.: 15.1%
21.3%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
5.8%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
8.4%±2.6
U.S.: 15.1%
Ludlow and Cavendish 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 #337 of 484 in NY
School district Green Mountain Unified School District #77 Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 — 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 18 photos → 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.