Compare towns

Montgomery vs Olean vs Olean 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

Montgomery has the most expensive homes ($323k median).
Olean has the highest household income ($75k).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).

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.

MeasureMontgomeryOleanOleanPlainfield
People
Population
1,047Lowest
1,664
13,738Highest
1,314
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
51.5±11.3
32% above U.S.
53.8±5.5Highest
38% above U.S.
39±2.6Lowest
about the U.S. average
48.1±5.5
24% above U.S.
Olean and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.5%±4.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
15.6%±4.5
U.S.: 22%
23.5%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.3%±4.7
U.S.: 22%
Olean and Plainfield 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%
19.1%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.1%±3.5
U.S.: 17.2%
Montgomery and Olean 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%
29.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
48.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±3.2
U.S.: 6.4%
2.5%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
3.6%±1.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.1%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Olean and Montgomery 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.
$51,261±$7kLowest
37% 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±$45kHighest
about the U.S. average
$158,600±$17k
52% below U.S.
$86,100±$6kLowest
74% below U.S.
$318,400±$34k
4% below U.S.
Montgomery and Plainfield 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.
$794±$52
44% 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.
$4,027
29% above U.S.
$3,130Lowest
about the U.S. average
$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%
52%±9.1Lowest
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%
U.S.: 12.5%
26.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
77.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
55.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980Highest
same as U.S.
1962
18 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1955
25 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
37 minHighest
41% above U.S.
19 min
30% below U.S.
14 minLowest
45% 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%
8.4%±2.6
U.S.: 15.1%
16.4%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Plainfield and Montgomery 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 #337 of 484 in NY —
School district Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 — OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT —
High school in town None in town — OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL —
Students per teacherat that high school — —
12.2
—
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.