Compare towns
Danby vs Olean vs Wardsboro vs Wells
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 the highest household income ($77k).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($159k median).
Wardsboro has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
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 | Wardsboro | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,133 |
1,664Highest |
820Lowest |
1,148 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.6±4.8 35% above U.S. |
53.8±5.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
51.6±7.3 33% above U.S. |
50.7±5.2Lowest 30% 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% |
18.8%±6.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Wardsboro and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wardsboro 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% |
38.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wells and Danby 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. |
$62,000±$6kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$75,417±$11k 7% below U.S. |
| Danby and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$41k 18% below U.S. |
$158,600±$17kLowest 52% below U.S. |
$299,300±$47kHighest 10% below U.S. |
$243,000±$42k 27% below U.S. |
| Wardsboro and Danby 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. |
$1,479±$224Highest 5% above U.S. |
$1,313±$282 7% below U.S. |
| Wardsboro and Wells 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. |
$4,345 39% above U.S. |
$3,308Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.4%±34.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±25.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.5%±58 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.5%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wells and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
48 minHighest 80% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wardsboro 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 | — | — |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | — | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| 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.