Compare towns
Mendon vs Olean vs Shrewsbury vs Chittenden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Shrewsbury has the most kids (25.1% under 18).
Chittenden has the highest household income ($106k).
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 | Mendon | Olean | Shrewsbury | Chittenden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,113Lowest |
13,738Highest |
1,237 |
1,318 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.4±10.5Highest 37% above U.S. |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.3±5.6 9% above U.S. |
50.8±6.3 31% above U.S. |
| Mendon and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
25.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Shrewsbury and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41% U.S.: 35.7% |
51.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chittenden and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,524±$23k 25% above U.S. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$91,250±$23k 13% above U.S. |
$106,250±$28kHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Chittenden and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $357,000±$44kHighest 7% above U.S. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$331,900±$52k about the U.S. average |
$346,800±$35k 4% above U.S. |
| Mendon and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,230±$651 13% below U.S. |
$794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$1,438±$380Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,125±$488 20% below U.S. |
| Shrewsbury and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,342 71% above U.S. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$5,350Highest 72% above U.S. |
$5,346 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
71.4%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
14.8%±55.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Shrewsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 36% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.5%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mendon and Shrewsbury 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 | — | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 | Barstow Unified Union School District #49 |
| High school in town | — | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | 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.