Compare towns
Ellery vs Olean vs Copake vs Bemus Point
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ellery has the most homeowners (89.5%).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($159k median).
Copake has the most people working from home (15.1%).
Bemus Point has the most expensive homes ($386k median).
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 | Ellery | Olean | Copake | Bemus Point |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,073Highest |
1,664 |
3,313 |
191Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-4.2%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-7.4% NY: +4.2% |
— |
| Median age | 56.1±4.5 41% above NY |
53.8±5.5Lowest 35% above NY |
59.3±3Highest 49% above NY |
59.1±5.3 48% above NY |
| Copake and Bemus Point are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.3%±3.8 NY: 20.5% |
15.6%±4.5Highest NY: 20.5% |
11.6%±3.8 NY: 20.5% |
5.8%±16.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Olean and Ellery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.8%±6.6 NY: 17.9% |
25.2%±5.1Lowest NY: 17.9% |
32.4%±7.1Highest NY: 17.9% |
26.2%±15.9 NY: 17.9% |
| Copake and Ellery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40% NY: 40.2% |
23.3%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
37% NY: 40.2% |
53.5%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 NY: 7% |
2.5%±1.5 NY: 7% |
1.5%±1.1Lowest NY: 7% |
7.3%±9.3Highest NY: 7% |
| Bemus Point and Ellery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,833±$12k about the NY average |
$74,583±$20kLowest 13% below NY |
$113,611±$40kHighest 32% above NY |
$86,250±$23k about the NY average |
| Copake and Ellery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,900±$29k 44% below NY |
$158,600±$17kLowest 63% below NY |
$325,000±$49k 23% below NY |
$386,400±$103kHighest 9% below NY |
| Bemus Point and Copake are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $845±$189 48% below NY |
$666±$334Lowest 59% below NY |
$1,204±$546Highest 26% below NY |
$688±$181 58% below NY |
| Copake and Ellery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,796 42% below NY |
$4,027 39% below NY |
$3,630Lowest 45% below NY |
$6,750Highest about the NY average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.9%±16.8 NY: 52.1% |
57.1%±25.5Highest NY: 52.1% |
54.5%±42.3 NY: 52.1% |
26.1%±100Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Olean and Copake are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.2%Lowest NY: 14% |
16.3%Highest NY: 14% |
13.5% NY: 14% |
11% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.5%Highest NY: 54.3% |
77.9% NY: 54.3% |
88.8% NY: 54.3% |
73%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 8 yrs newer than NY |
1962 3 yrs newer than NY |
1970Highest 11 yrs newer than NY |
1955Lowest 4 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 29% below NY |
19 min 43% below NY |
32 minHighest 3% below NY |
15 minLowest 53% below NY |
| Work from home | 4.5%±2.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
5.8%±4.7 NY: 14.9% |
15.1%±5.9Highest NY: 14.9% |
10.3%±11.8 NY: 14.9% |
| Copake and Bemus Point 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 | #241 of 484 in NY | #337 of 484 in NY | #302 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | BEMUS POINT CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | TACONIC HILLS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | MAPLE GROVE JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — | TACONIC HILLSJUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.6Lowest |
— | 8.8Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NY 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.