Compare towns
Ira vs Mount Tabor vs Olean vs Castleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mount Tabor has the most expensive homes ($421k median).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
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 | Ira | Mount Tabor | Olean | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 381 |
304Lowest |
13,738Highest |
4,453 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -3.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.1±5.5 39% above U.S. |
57.8±10.6Highest 49% above U.S. |
39±2.6 about the U.S. average |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Mount Tabor and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.5%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
10.2%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Olean and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.9%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
42.4%±18.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Mount Tabor and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,827±$5k 11% below U.S. |
— | $51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$73,854±$23kHighest 9% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,900±$18k 18% below U.S. |
$420,500±$76kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $942±$52 33% below U.S. |
$2,143±$367Highest 52% above U.S. |
$794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,146 33% above U.S. |
$5,233Highest 68% above U.S. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,167 about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1946 34 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
46 minHighest 72% above U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.4%±8.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mount Tabor and Olean 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 | #39 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | — | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school 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 | 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.