Compare towns
Danby vs Olean vs Hadley vs Dorset
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 ($86k median).
Hadley has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Dorset 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 | Danby | Olean | Hadley | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,133Lowest |
13,738Highest |
2,074 |
2,092 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.6±4.8 35% above U.S. |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
54.1±3Highest 39% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5 18% above U.S. |
| Hadley and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Olean 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% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hadley and Danby 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% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
25%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Olean and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,321±$13k 4% below U.S. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$73,750±$32k 9% below U.S. |
$111,250±$40kHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Danby 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. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$194,200±$30k 42% below U.S. |
$569,200±$57kHighest 71% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$166Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$900±$293 36% below U.S. |
$1,420±$296Highest about the U.S. average |
| Dorset and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,543 46% above U.S. |
$3,130 about the U.S. average |
$2,375Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$7,489Highest 140% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.4%±34.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset 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% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
22 min 18% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.2%±23.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset and Hadley 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 | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| 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.