Compare towns
Chester vs Gerry 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
Chester has the most expensive homes ($233k median).
Gerry has the highest household income ($69k).
Olean has the shortest commute (14 min average).
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 | Chester | Gerry | Olean |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,992 |
1,668Lowest |
13,738Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
52.4±5.7Highest 35% above U.S. |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Gerry and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Olean and Gerry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.8%±7.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.9%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gerry and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $62,125±$8k 23% below U.S. |
$68,667±$12kHighest 15% below U.S. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Gerry and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $232,900±$44kHighest 30% below U.S. |
$119,200±$10k 64% below U.S. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44 32% below U.S. |
$1,138±$260Highest 19% below U.S. |
$794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S. |
| Gerry and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262Highest 37% above U.S. |
$2,606Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$3,130 about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.2%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gerry and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chester 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 | #49 of 70 in VT | — | #337 of 484 in NY |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | CASSADAGA VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | CASSADAGA VALLEY MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Lowest |
8.7Lowest |
12.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.