Compare towns
Danby vs Waltham vs Olean 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
Waltham has the most people working from home (20.6%).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($159k median).
Wardsboro has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
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 | Waltham | Olean | Wardsboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,133 |
452Lowest |
1,664Highest |
820 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.6±4.8 35% above U.S. |
60.8±7.3Highest 56% above U.S. |
53.8±5.5 38% above U.S. |
51.6±7.3Lowest 33% above U.S. |
| Waltham and Olean 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% |
12.8%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.5Highest 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% |
45.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
39%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Waltham 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. |
$97,500±$14kHighest 21% above U.S. |
$74,583±$20k 8% below U.S. |
$62,000±$6kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Waltham 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. |
$329,700±$51kHighest about the U.S. average |
$158,600±$17kLowest 52% below U.S. |
$299,300±$47k 10% below U.S. |
| Waltham and Wardsboro 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. |
$1,096±$113 22% below U.S. |
$666±$334Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$1,479±$224Highest 5% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,543 46% above U.S. |
$5,714Highest 83% above U.S. |
$4,027Lowest 29% above U.S. |
$4,345 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.4%±34.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±58.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±25.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.5%±58 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Olean 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% |
5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Waltham 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 | — | — | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| High school 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.