Compare towns
Middlesex vs Montpelier vs Olean
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlesex has the most homeowners (96.7%).
Montpelier has the most renters (46.9% rent).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
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 | Middlesex | Montpelier | Olean |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,943Lowest |
8,014 |
13,738Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
42.3±2.4 9% above U.S. |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Middlesex and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
17.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Olean and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Montpelier and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
66.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$81,030±$6k about the U.S. average |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$375,100±$21k 13% above U.S. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,302±$113 8% below U.S. |
$794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483 108% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.4%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Olean and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
53.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1955 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
18 min 31% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Montpelier 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 | — | #9 of 70 in VT | #337 of 484 in NY |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Montpelier Roxbury Unified Union School District #71 | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | None in town | Montpelier High School | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Lowest |
12.2Highest |
| 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.