Compare towns
Fairlee vs Olean vs Norton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fairlee has the most expensive homes ($278k median).
Olean has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Norton has the most homeowners (100%).
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 | Fairlee | Olean | Norton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 54Lowest |
13,738Highest |
108 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 63.5±7.6Highest 63% above U.S. |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
53.8±6.7 38% above U.S. |
| Fairlee and Norton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 0%±52.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
13%±21.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Olean and Norton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 37%±54.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.5%±15.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Fairlee and Norton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 11.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±26.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±10.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Norton and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $21,071±$13kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$51,261±$7k 37% below U.S. |
$65,625±$23kHighest 19% below U.S. |
| Norton and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $277,500±$28kHighest 17% below U.S. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$200,000±$32k 40% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,057±$620Highest 25% below U.S. |
$794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S. |
— |
| Fairlee and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,750Highest 20% above U.S. |
$3,130 about the U.S. average |
$2,769Lowest 11% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±55.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
— |
| Fairlee and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 50%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
26.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
13%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
100%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | — | 14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
39 minHighest 49% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.5%±30.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±18Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Norton and Fairlee 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 | — | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | — | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.