Compare towns
Grafton vs Olean vs Fairlee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Grafton has the most expensive homes ($343k median).
Olean has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Fairlee has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
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 | Grafton | Olean | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 666Lowest |
13,738Highest |
1,066 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 59.2±4.4Highest 52% above U.S. |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
56.2±8.7 44% above U.S. |
| Grafton and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 5.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.2%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 34.2%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Grafton and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Grafton and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,111±$7kHighest 6% below U.S. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$74,760±$10k 7% below U.S. |
| Grafton and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $343,200±$85kHighest 3% above U.S. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$274,200±$39k 18% below U.S. |
| Grafton and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,288±$174Highest 9% below U.S. |
$794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$1,083±$242 23% below U.S. |
| Grafton and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,843 55% above U.S. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$5,617Highest 80% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.8%±69.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
89.2%±71.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fairlee and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 8% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.8%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Grafton 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 | Athens Grafton School District | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| 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 |
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.