Compare towns
Ira vs Olean vs Castleton vs West Haven
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ira has the most expensive homes ($273k median).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
West Haven has the most people working from home (10.4%).
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.
| Measure | Ira | Olean | Castleton | West Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 381 |
13,738Highest |
4,453 |
234Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 54.1±5.5Highest 39% above U.S. |
39±2.6 about the U.S. average |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
54±10.5 39% above U.S. |
| Ira and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±13.3 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% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| West Haven 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% |
29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.4%±4.4Lowest 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±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$85,250±$29kHighest 6% above U.S. |
| West Haven and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,900±$18kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$245,000±$34k 26% below U.S. |
| Ira and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $942±$52 33% below U.S. |
$794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195Highest 20% below U.S. |
— |
| Castleton and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,146 33% above U.S. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,167 about the U.S. average |
$4,485Highest 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.4%±6.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| West Haven 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.