Compare towns
Montgomery 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 most affordable homes ($159k 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.
| Measure | Montgomery | Olean | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,047Lowest |
1,664Highest |
1,314 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.2%Lowest 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. |
48.1±5.5Lowest 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% |
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% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest 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% |
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% |
2.1%±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±$24kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$74,583±$20kHighest 8% 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±$17kLowest 52% 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. |
$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. |
$4,806Highest 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.6%±68Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±25.5Lowest 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% |
11.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9%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. |
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. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.8%±4.7Lowest 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 | — |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| 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.