Compare towns
Hadley vs Middlesex vs Olean vs Lake Luzerne
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hadley has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k 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 | Hadley | Middlesex | Olean | Lake Luzerne |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,074 |
1,943Lowest |
13,738Highest |
3,080 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.1±3Highest 39% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
52.5±11.7 35% above U.S. |
| Hadley and Lake Luzerne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±5.1 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+ | 26.1%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.3%±7.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lake Luzerne and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
25%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.6%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lake Luzerne and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,750±$32k 9% below U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$51,261±$7k 37% below U.S. |
$46,633±$7kLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $194,200±$30k 42% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$222,800±$11k 33% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $900±$293 36% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$951±$48 33% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Lake Luzerne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,375Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$3,130 about the U.S. average |
$2,677 14% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.1%±76.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lake Luzerne and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
26.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
33.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 24.2%±23.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Hadley 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 | #336 of 484 in NY |
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | HADLEY-LUZERNE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | None in town | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | HADLEY-LUZERNE JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.2Highest |
7.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 5 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.