Compare towns
Johnson vs Olean vs Waterville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Johnson has the youngest population (median age 30.9).
Olean has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Waterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
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 | Johnson | Olean | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,450 |
13,738Highest |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 30.9±6.5Lowest 21% below U.S. |
39±2.6 about the U.S. average |
49.1±8.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Waterville and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±5 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±8.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Olean and Johnson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 10.8%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.4%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Olean and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $55,346±$14k 31% below U.S. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$71,250±$27kHighest 12% below U.S. |
| Waterville and Johnson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $169,400±$62k 49% below U.S. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$236,300±$15kHighest 29% below U.S. |
| Waterville and Johnson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$45 33% below U.S. |
$794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$1,110±$93Highest 21% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,310 6% above U.S. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,957Highest 27% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±20.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±27.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Olean and Johnson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 26% above U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.8%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Johnson and Waterville 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 | #57 of 70 in VT | #337 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| 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.