Compare towns

Montgomery vs Olean vs Dover vs Plainfield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Olean has the most affordable homes ($159k median).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 48.1).

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.

MeasureMontgomeryOleanDoverPlainfield
People
Population
1,047Lowest
1,664Highest
1,466
1,314
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+60%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
51.5±11.3
32% above U.S.
53.8±5.5Highest
38% above U.S.
53.5±8.3
38% above U.S.
48.1±5.5Lowest
24% above U.S.
Olean and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.5%±4.4
U.S.: 22%
15.6%±4.5
U.S.: 22%
10.2%±5.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
16.3%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
Plainfield and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
33.9%±8.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
25.2%±5.1
U.S.: 17.2%
29.5%±6.2
U.S.: 17.2%
21.1%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Montgomery and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
52.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
23.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
48.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.5%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
2.5%±2.9
U.S.: 6.4%
2.1%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Montgomery and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$53,289±$24k
34% below U.S.
$74,583±$20kHighest
8% below U.S.
$52,313±$7kLowest
35% below U.S.
$69,250±$31k
14% below U.S.
Olean and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$323,200±$45k
about the U.S. average
$158,600±$17kLowest
52% below U.S.
$332,900±$55kHighest
about the U.S. average
$318,400±$34k
4% below U.S.
Dover and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$868±$209
39% below U.S.
$666±$334Lowest
53% below U.S.
$670±$49
53% below U.S.
$1,153±$103Highest
18% below U.S.
Plainfield and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,326
39% above U.S.
$4,027Lowest
29% above U.S.
$4,510
45% above U.S.
$4,806Highest
54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
76.6%±68Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
57.1%±25.5
U.S.: 51.1%
38.1%±17.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
73.2%±53.9
U.S.: 51.1%
Montgomery and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
15.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
16.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
77.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
same as U.S.
1962
18 yrs older than U.S.
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1955Lowest
25 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
37 minHighest
41% above U.S.
19 minLowest
30% below U.S.
22 min
17% below U.S.
24 min
9% below U.S.
Work from home
16%±5.9
U.S.: 15.1%
5.8%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.2%±11.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.4%±4.4
U.S.: 15.1%
Dover and Plainfield 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 Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 — River Valleys Unified School District #73 —
High school in town None in town — None in town —
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.