Compare towns
Middlebury vs Olean vs Olean vs Essex Junction
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlebury has the youngest population (median age 31.8).
Olean has the oldest population (median age 53.8).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Essex Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Middlebury is a college town. 32.6% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Middlebury | Olean | Olean | Essex Junction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,175 |
1,664Lowest |
13,738Highest |
10,803 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 31.8±3.7Lowest 18% below U.S. |
53.8±5.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
39±2.6 about the U.S. average |
39.3±3.1 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 11.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Olean and Essex Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Olean and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 32.6%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,169±$16k 7% above U.S. |
$74,583±$20k 8% below U.S. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$89,257±$16kHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Essex Junction and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $409,700±$30kHighest 23% above U.S. |
$158,600±$17k 52% below U.S. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$407,500±$20k 22% above U.S. |
| Middlebury and Essex Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,156±$113 18% below U.S. |
$666±$334Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$794±$52 44% below U.S. |
$1,544±$135Highest 9% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,868Highest 120% above U.S. |
$4,027 29% above U.S. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$6,797 118% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±14.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±25.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.3%±14.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Essex Junction and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 16 min 41% below U.S. |
19 min 30% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
19 minHighest 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.8%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlebury and Essex Junction 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 | #17 of 70 in VT | #337 of 484 in NY | #337 of 484 in NY | #14 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Patricia Hannaford Career Center · Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | Middlebury Union High School | — | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | Essex High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
— | 12.2 |
11.7Lowest |
| 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.