Compare towns
Danby vs Olean vs Panton vs Wardsboro
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 most affordable homes ($86k median).
Panton has the most people working from home (26.7%).
Wardsboro has the most homeowners (90.4%).
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 | Panton | Wardsboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,133 |
13,738Highest |
690Lowest |
820 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.6±4.8Highest 35% above U.S. |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.7±3.8 10% above U.S. |
51.6±7.3 33% above U.S. |
| Danby and Wardsboro 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% |
23.5%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Panton 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%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wardsboro 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9%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% |
2.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Olean 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±$13k 4% below U.S. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$86,667±$10kHighest 7% above U.S. |
$62,000±$6k 23% below U.S. |
| Panton 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. |
$438,000±$40kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$299,300±$47k 10% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$166Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$1,410±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,479±$224Highest 5% above U.S. |
| Wardsboro and Panton 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. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$6,695Highest 115% above U.S. |
$4,345 39% 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% |
61%±39Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.5%±58 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Panton and Wardsboro 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% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% 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% |
90.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±8.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Panton and Wardsboro 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 | — | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| 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.



