Compare towns
Middlesex vs Olean vs Chester
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Chester has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
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 | Olean | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,943Lowest |
13,738Highest |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
49.7±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Chester and Middlesex 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% |
23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest 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% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Chester 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. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$62,125±$8k 23% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$232,900±$44k 30% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$960±$44 32% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,262 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Chester 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 | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | None in town | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2Highest |
8.7Lowest |
| 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.