Compare towns
Clarendon vs Olean vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Clarendon has the most kids (18.6% under 18).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($159k median).
Chester has the most people working from home (14%).
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 | Clarendon | Olean | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,460 |
1,664Lowest |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.3±4.1 34% above U.S. |
53.8±5.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7Lowest 28% above U.S. |
| Olean and Clarendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Clarendon and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.4%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester and Clarendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4Highest 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 | $59,609±$12kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$74,583±$20kHighest 8% below U.S. |
$62,125±$8k 23% below U.S. |
| Olean and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $220,900±$32k 34% below U.S. |
$158,600±$17kLowest 52% below U.S. |
$232,900±$44kHighest 30% below U.S. |
| Chester and Clarendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$305Highest 22% below U.S. |
$666±$334Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$960±$44 32% below U.S. |
| Clarendon and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,740Lowest 20% above U.S. |
$4,027 29% above U.S. |
$4,262Highest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±27.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±25.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Olean and Clarendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 16 minLowest 40% below U.S. |
19 min 30% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chester and Clarendon 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 | — | #337 of 484 in NY | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 | — | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | Mill River Union High School | — | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4Highest |
— | 8.7Lowest |
| 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.