Compare towns
Cavendish vs Putnam vs Olean vs Ludlow
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 youngest population (median age 45.2).
Putnam has the most homeowners (95.9%).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($159k median).
Ludlow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
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.
| Measure | Cavendish | Putnam | Olean | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,242 |
540Lowest |
1,664 |
1,990Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.2±5.9Lowest 16% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4 38% above U.S. |
53.8±5.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
52.2±6.2 34% above U.S. |
| Olean and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Cavendish and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.6%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.1%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Putnam and Ludlow 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% |
31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±6.4Highest 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±$29k 10% above U.S. |
$92,344±$14kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$74,583±$20k 8% below U.S. |
$54,885±$14kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Putnam 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. |
$266,200±$48k 20% below U.S. |
$158,600±$17kLowest 52% below U.S. |
$370,200±$46kHighest 11% above 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. |
— | $666±$334Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$1,112±$151Highest 21% 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. |
$3,674Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,027 29% above U.S. |
$4,890Highest 57% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.9%±27 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±25.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.2%±25.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Olean and Ludlow 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% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
21 minHighest 19% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
20 min 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±5.2Highest 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 | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.