Compare towns
Halifax vs Olean vs Westminster vs Windham
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).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
Windham has the highest household income ($95k).
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 | Halifax | Olean | Westminster | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 847 |
13,738Highest |
497Lowest |
594 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 40.6±13.1 4% above U.S. |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.3±11.5 11% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Windham and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25.4%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
28.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Westminster and Halifax 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% |
19.7%±11.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windham 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% |
45.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Olean and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $63,889±$7k 21% below U.S. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$81,000±$22k about the U.S. average |
$94,500±$12kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Windham and Westminster 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. |
$313,600±$39k 6% below U.S. |
$353,900±$20kHighest 6% above U.S. |
| Windham and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$154Highest 38% below U.S. |
$794±$52 44% below U.S. |
$749±$315Lowest 47% below U.S. |
— |
| Halifax and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,991 60% above U.S. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,480 44% above U.S. |
$5,951Highest 91% 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% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
30 min 13% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 29.9%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.1%±15.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Halifax and Westminster 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 | #53 of 70 in VT | — |
| 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 | 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.