Compare towns
Montgomery vs Olean vs Worcester
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.4%).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
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 | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,047 |
13,738Highest |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±11.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
| Montgomery and Worcester 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% |
23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 33.9%±8.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester 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. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$73,833±$18kHighest 9% below U.S. |
| Worcester and Montgomery 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 |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$271,100±$27k 19% below U.S. |
| Montgomery and Worcester 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. |
$794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136Highest 28% below U.S. |
| Worcester 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. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,421Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.6%±68Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Montgomery and Olean 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% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester 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 | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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.