Compare towns

Dover vs Olean vs Montgomery vs Townshend

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($159k median).
Montgomery has the youngest population (median age 51.5).
Townshend has the most people working from home (28%).

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.

MeasureDoverOleanMontgomeryTownshend
People
Population
1,466
1,664Highest
1,047Lowest
1,538
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+60%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
53.5±8.3
38% above U.S.
53.8±5.5
38% above U.S.
51.5±11.3Lowest
32% above U.S.
55.6±9.6Highest
43% above U.S.
Townshend and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
10.2%±5.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
15.6%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.5%±4.4
U.S.: 22%
12%±2.6
U.S.: 22%
Olean and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
29.5%±6.2
U.S.: 17.2%
25.2%±5.1
U.S.: 17.2%
33.9%±8.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.3%±6.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Montgomery and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
23.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
52.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
52.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.5%±2.9
U.S.: 6.4%
2.5%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.4%±0.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Montgomery and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$52,313±$7kLowest
35% below U.S.
$74,583±$20k
8% below U.S.
$53,289±$24k
34% below U.S.
$78,750±$29kHighest
about the U.S. average
Townshend and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$332,900±$55kHighest
about the U.S. average
$158,600±$17kLowest
52% below U.S.
$323,200±$45k
about the U.S. average
$287,200±$79k
14% below U.S.
Dover and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$670±$49
53% below U.S.
$666±$334Lowest
53% below U.S.
$868±$209
39% below U.S.
$1,074±$80Highest
24% below U.S.
Townshend and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,510
45% above U.S.
$4,027Lowest
29% above U.S.
$4,326
39% above U.S.
$5,364Highest
72% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.1%±17.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
57.1%±25.5
U.S.: 51.1%
76.6%±68Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
72.5%±23.1
U.S.: 51.1%
Montgomery and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
16.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
15.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
77.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
82.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1962Lowest
18 yrs older than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 min
17% below U.S.
19 minLowest
30% below U.S.
37 minHighest
41% above U.S.
25 min
5% below U.S.
Work from home
23.2%±11.1
U.S.: 15.1%
5.8%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
16%±5.9
U.S.: 15.1%
28%±18.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Townshend and Dover 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 River Valleys Unified School District #73 — Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A
High school in town None in town — None in town Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School
Students per teacherat that high school — — —
8.1
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.