Compare towns
Chittenden vs Olean vs Strafford vs Monkton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Olean has the most affordable homes ($159k median).
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
Monkton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
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 | Chittenden | Olean | Strafford | Monkton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,318Lowest |
1,664 |
1,372 |
1,999Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±6.3 31% above U.S. |
53.8±5.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
47.1±5.4Lowest 21% above U.S. |
| Olean and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.1%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Monkton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Olean and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,250±$28k 32% above U.S. |
$74,583±$20kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
$119,688±$28kHighest 48% above U.S. |
| Monkton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,800±$35k 4% above U.S. |
$158,600±$17kLowest 52% below U.S. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$379,900±$18k 14% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Monkton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$488 20% below U.S. |
$666±$334Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
$1,301±$120Highest 8% below U.S. |
| Monkton and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,346 71% above U.S. |
$4,027Lowest 29% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$5,887 89% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.8%±55.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±25.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±64Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Monkton and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #337 of 484 in NY | — | — |
| School district | Barstow Unified Union School District #49 | — | Strafford School District | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.