Compare towns
Jamaica vs Olean vs Wardsboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jamaica has the most people working from home (23.2%).
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 | Jamaica | Olean | Wardsboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 882 |
13,738Highest |
820Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.1±5.5Highest 42% above U.S. |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
51.6±7.3 33% above U.S. |
| Jamaica and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.7%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Olean and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30%±8.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jamaica and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Jamaica and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,219±$19kHighest about the U.S. average |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$62,000±$6k 23% below U.S. |
| Jamaica and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $347,800±$50kHighest 5% above U.S. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$299,300±$47k 10% below U.S. |
| Jamaica and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $870±$464 38% below U.S. |
$794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$1,479±$224Highest 5% above U.S. |
| Wardsboro and Jamaica are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,773Highest 53% above U.S. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,345 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 7.1%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.5%±58Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wardsboro and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 23.2%±12.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jamaica and Wardsboro 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 | — |
| School district | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| High school in town | None 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 |
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.