Compare towns
Lincoln vs Olean vs Olean vs Starksboro
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 oldest population (median age 53.8).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Starksboro has the most kids (26.4% under 18).
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 | Olean | Starksboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,394Lowest |
1,664 |
13,738Highest |
1,939 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.7±3.6 17% above U.S. |
53.8±5.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
39±2.6 about the U.S. average |
38.2±4.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Olean and Lincoln 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% |
23.5%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
26.4%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Starksboro and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Olean and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9% 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% |
3.6%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Olean and Starksboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $96,667±$18kHighest 20% above U.S. |
$74,583±$20k 8% below U.S. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$82,188±$15k about the U.S. average |
| Lincoln and Starksboro 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±$17k 52% below U.S. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$287,700±$42k 14% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $870±$47 38% below U.S. |
$666±$334Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$794±$52 44% below U.S. |
$1,306±$91Highest 8% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,100Highest 96% above U.S. |
$4,027 29% above U.S. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,536 45% 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% |
52%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
28.6%±26.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Olean and Olean 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
19 min 30% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.8%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lincoln and Starksboro 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 | #337 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | Lincoln Town School District | — | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 |
| 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 | 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.