Compare towns
Fayston vs Olean vs Warren vs Waitsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fayston has the highest household income ($110k).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Warren has the most people working from home (36.2%).
Waitsfield has the oldest population (median age 74.8).
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 | Fayston | Olean | Warren | Waitsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,342 |
13,738Highest |
1,585 |
193Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 46.9±3.5 21% above U.S. |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
53.1±4.2 37% above U.S. |
74.8±13.4Highest 92% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
9.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
0%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Olean and Fayston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.1%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
71.5%±17.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60% U.S.: 35.7% |
71.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±9.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Waitsfield and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,250±$28kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$51,261±$7k 37% below U.S. |
$86,905±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$26,384±$5kLowest 67% below U.S. |
| Fayston and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $502,400±$82k 51% above U.S. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$569,300±$123kHighest 71% above U.S. |
$453,100±$98k 36% above U.S. |
| Warren and Fayston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,654±$274 17% above U.S. |
$794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$1,750±$394Highest 24% above U.S. |
— |
| Warren and Fayston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,689 114% above U.S. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$7,284Highest 134% above U.S. |
$4,688 50% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 6.3%±27.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.3%±26.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.1%±49.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Olean and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
33.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
14 min 45% below U.S. |
19 min 30% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.2%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
36.2%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
31%±23.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Warren and Waitsfield 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 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
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.