Compare towns
Danby vs Olean vs Olean vs Pawlet
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danby has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.1%).
Olean has the oldest population (median age 53.8).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Pawlet has the most people working from home (20.4%).
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 | Danby | Olean | Olean | Pawlet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,133Lowest |
1,664 |
13,738Highest |
1,480 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.6±4.8 35% above U.S. |
53.8±5.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
47.9±7.5 23% above U.S. |
| Olean and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Olean and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Pawlet and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pawlet and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,321±$13kHighest 4% below U.S. |
$74,583±$20k 8% below U.S. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$62,273±$14k 23% below U.S. |
| Danby and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$41kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$158,600±$17k 52% below U.S. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$266,200±$44k 20% below U.S. |
| Danby and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$166 44% below U.S. |
$666±$334Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$794±$52 44% below U.S. |
$1,153±$215Highest 18% below U.S. |
| Pawlet and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,543Highest 46% above U.S. |
$4,027 29% above U.S. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,924 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.4%±34.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±25.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.6%±21.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Olean and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
19 min 30% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.4%±8.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pawlet and Danby 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 | #337 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | — | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Mettawee School District #84 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.2 |
— |
| 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.