Compare towns
Chester vs Hadley 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).
Hadley has the most people working from home (24.2%).
Olean has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
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 | Hadley | Olean |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,992 |
2,074Lowest |
13,738Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
54.1±3Highest 39% above U.S. |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Hadley 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% |
14.4%±3 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester and Hadley 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% |
25%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.8Lowest 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. |
$73,750±$32kHighest 9% below U.S. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Hadley 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. |
$194,200±$30k 42% below U.S. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
| Chester and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Highest 32% below U.S. |
$900±$293 36% below U.S. |
$794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S. |
| Chester and Hadley 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. |
$2,375Lowest 24% 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% |
44.3%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Olean and Hadley 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% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.2%±23.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hadley and Chester 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 | — | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | — | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 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.