Compare towns

Halifax vs Olean vs Craftsbury

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Halifax has the most people working from home (29.9%).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Craftsbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.4%).

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.

MeasureHalifaxOleanCraftsbury
People
Population
847Lowest
13,738Highest
1,352
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+11.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.6±13.1
4% above U.S.
39±2.6Lowest
about the U.S. average
41.5±4.6Highest
7% above U.S.
Craftsbury and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
25.4%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
23.5%±2.9
U.S.: 22%
21.2%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Halifax and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.6%±7.2
U.S.: 17.2%
19.1%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
25.7%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Craftsbury and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
44.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
29.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
46.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.2%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.6%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
12.4%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$63,889±$7k
21% below U.S.
$51,261±$7kLowest
37% below U.S.
$83,672±$16kHighest
4% above U.S.
Craftsbury and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$267,500±$21k
20% below U.S.
$86,100±$6kLowest
74% below U.S.
$270,500±$44kHighest
19% below U.S.
Craftsbury and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$875±$154
38% below U.S.
$794±$52Lowest
44% below U.S.
$1,091±$184Highest
23% below U.S.
Craftsbury and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,991Highest
60% above U.S.
$3,130Lowest
about the U.S. average
$4,164
34% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.1%±73.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
52%±9.1
U.S.: 51.1%
29.9%±29.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Halifax and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
26.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
55.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1983Highest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
23% above U.S.
14 minLowest
45% below U.S.
27 min
3% above U.S.
Work from home
29.9%±11.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
8.4%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.5%±5.1
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #337 of 484 in NY —
School district Halifax School District OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT —
High school in town None 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.