Compare towns
Chester vs Olean vs Windham vs Brandon
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 homeowners (86.7%).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k median).
Brandon has the oldest population (median age 50.1).
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 | Olean | Windham | Brandon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992 |
13,738Highest |
594Lowest |
4,120 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
50.1±3.1Highest 29% above U.S. |
| Brandon 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% |
23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Olean and Brandon 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% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.7 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. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$94,500±$12kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$64,180±$12k 21% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $232,900±$44k 30% below U.S. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$353,900±$20kHighest 6% above U.S. |
$227,800±$23k 32% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44 32% below U.S. |
$794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S. |
— | $1,064±$225Highest 25% below U.S. |
| Brandon 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. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$5,951Highest 91% above U.S. |
$4,241 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±15.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Olean and Brandon 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% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1951 29 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham 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 | — | #69 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — | Otter Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Lowest |
12.2Highest |
— | 9.9 |
| 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.