Compare towns
Cavendish vs Olean vs Strafford vs Whitingham
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.8%).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k 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 | Cavendish | Olean | Strafford | Whitingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,242Lowest |
13,738Highest |
1,372 |
1,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.2±5.9 16% above U.S. |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
46.4±7.1 19% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Olean and Strafford 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% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.1%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford 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±$29k 10% above U.S. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$70,625±$11k 13% below U.S. |
| Strafford and Cavendish 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. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$262,300±$30k 21% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,000±$546 29% below U.S. |
$794±$52 44% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789Highest 20% below U.S. |
$673±$150Lowest 52% below U.S. |
| Strafford 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. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$5,055 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.9%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.7%±47.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whitingham 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% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 30% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Cavendish and Strafford 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 | — | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Strafford School District | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| High school in town | None in town | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2Highest |
— | 7.8Lowest |
| 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.