Compare towns
Lincoln vs Olean vs Brookfield vs Cavendish
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lincoln has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($159k median).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Cavendish has the youngest population (median age 45.2).
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 | Lincoln | Olean | Brookfield | Cavendish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,394 |
1,664Highest |
1,486 |
1,242Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.7±3.6 17% above U.S. |
53.8±5.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
47±5.9 21% above U.S. |
45.2±5.9Lowest 16% above U.S. |
| Olean and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Brookfield and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.6%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brookfield and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cavendish and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $96,667±$18k 20% above U.S. |
$74,583±$20kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$98,500±$23kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$89,063±$29k 10% above U.S. |
| Brookfield and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $365,200±$30kHighest 10% above U.S. |
$158,600±$17kLowest 52% below U.S. |
$339,300±$15k about the U.S. average |
$285,100±$40k 14% below U.S. |
| Lincoln and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $870±$47 38% below U.S. |
$666±$334Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$975±$306 31% below U.S. |
$1,000±$546Highest 29% below U.S. |
| Cavendish and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,100Highest 96% above U.S. |
$4,027 29% above U.S. |
$4,560 46% above U.S. |
$3,948Lowest 27% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.1%±25.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±25.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.4%±27.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
28.9%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Olean and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.8%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookfield and Lincoln 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 | Lincoln Town School District | — | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 18 photos → |
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.