Compare towns
Chester vs Massena vs Olean vs Berlin
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 people working from home (14%).
Olean has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.3%).
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 | Massena | Olean | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992 |
10,238 |
13,738Highest |
2,880Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
42.6±4.7 10% above U.S. |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Berlin 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% |
19.4%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Olean and Massena are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester and Berlin 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% |
25.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester and Berlin 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. |
$51,458±$7k 36% below U.S. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$86,691±$21kHighest 7% above U.S. |
| Berlin 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±$44k 30% below U.S. |
$94,400±$15k 72% below U.S. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$273,600±$31kHighest 18% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44 32% below U.S. |
$722±$44Lowest 49% below U.S. |
$794±$52 44% below U.S. |
$1,169±$171Highest 17% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262 37% above U.S. |
$3,218 3% above U.S. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,418Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.8%±11.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Massena 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% |
24.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1954 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
18 min 32% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
21 min 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.2%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chester and Berlin 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 | #16 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | — | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | — | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Lowest |
— | 12.2Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.