Compare towns

Dover vs Olean vs Townshend vs Marlboro

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).
Townshend has the most people working from home (28%).
Marlboro has the youngest population (median age 22.7).
Marlboro is a college town. 42.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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.

MeasureDoverOleanTownshendMarlboro
People
Population
1,466
1,664Highest
1,538
1,362Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+60%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+59.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
53.5±8.3
38% above U.S.
53.8±5.5
38% above U.S.
55.6±9.6Highest
43% above U.S.
22.7±2.1Lowest
42% below 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%
12%±2.6
U.S.: 22%
12%±3.2
U.S.: 22%
Olean and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
29.5%±6.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
25.2%±5.1
U.S.: 17.2%
19.3%±6.6
U.S.: 17.2%
18.8%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Dover and Olean 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%
52.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
53.7%Highest
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%
1.4%±0.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
42.7%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$52,313±$7kLowest
35% below U.S.
$74,583±$20k
8% below U.S.
$78,750±$29kHighest
about the U.S. average
$77,135±$10k
4% below U.S.
Townshend and Marlboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$332,900±$55k
about the U.S. average
$158,600±$17kLowest
52% below U.S.
$287,200±$79k
14% below U.S.
$357,300±$55kHighest
7% above U.S.
Marlboro and Dover 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.
$1,074±$80
24% below U.S.
$1,600±$824Highest
13% above U.S.
Marlboro and Townshend 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.
$5,364
72% above U.S.
$5,640Highest
81% 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%
72.5%±23.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
39.1%±43.6
U.S.: 51.1%
Townshend and Olean 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%
8.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
7.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
77.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
84.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1962Lowest
18 yrs older than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 min
17% below U.S.
19 min
30% below U.S.
25 minHighest
5% below U.S.
17 minLowest
34% below U.S.
Work from home
23.2%±11.1
U.S.: 15.1%
5.8%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
28%±18.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
26%±11.2
U.S.: 15.1%
Townshend and Marlboro 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 — West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A Marlboro School District
High school in town None in town — Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School None in town
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.