Compare towns
Middletown Springs vs Olean vs West Fairlee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middletown Springs has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.6%).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
West Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 50.3).
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 | Middletown Springs | Olean | West Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 747 |
13,738Highest |
711Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1 26% above U.S. |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
50.3±7.6Highest 29% above U.S. |
| West Fairlee and Middletown Springs are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Middletown Springs and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| West Fairlee and Middletown Springs are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Olean and Middletown Springs are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $82,000±$12kHighest about the U.S. average |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$76,500±$16k 5% below U.S. |
| Middletown Springs and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $262,200±$24kHighest 21% below U.S. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$237,200±$35k 29% below U.S. |
| Middletown Springs and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,208±$438Highest 15% below U.S. |
$794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$1,113±$171 21% below U.S. |
| Middletown Springs and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,595 47% above U.S. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$5,210Highest 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50%±89.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Olean and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 3% above U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.7%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.5%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middletown Springs and Olean 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 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| 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 |
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.