Compare towns
Gerry vs Olean vs Middlesex vs Esperance
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gerry has the oldest population (median age 52.4).
Olean has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | Gerry | Olean | Middlesex | Esperance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,668Lowest |
13,738Highest |
1,943 |
1,794 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-13%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.4±5.7Highest 35% above U.S. |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
51.9±5 33% above U.S. |
| Gerry and Esperance are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Olean and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.9%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Esperance are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $68,667±$12k 15% below U.S. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$76,058±$11k 6% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $119,200±$10k 64% below U.S. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$196,200±$45k 41% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,138±$260 19% below U.S. |
$794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,075±$470 24% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Gerry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,606Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$3,130 about the U.S. average |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$4,005 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.2%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.8%±15.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gerry and Esperance are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9% U.S.: 12.5% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1957 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 6.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.2%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #337 of 484 in NY | — | — |
| School district | CASSADAGA VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school in town | CASSADAGA VALLEY MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Lowest |
12.2Highest |
— | — |
| 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.