Compare towns
Montpelier vs Olean vs Olean vs Waterbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Montpelier has the most renters (46.9% rent).
Olean has the oldest population (median age 53.8).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Waterbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).
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 | Montpelier | Olean | Olean | Waterbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,014 |
1,664Lowest |
13,738Highest |
5,405 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.4 9% above U.S. |
53.8±5.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.2±3.7 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.9%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Olean and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Olean and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Montpelier and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,030±$6k about the U.S. average |
$74,583±$20k 8% below U.S. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$103,917±$23kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Waterbury and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $375,100±$21k 13% above U.S. |
$158,600±$17k 52% below U.S. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$447,200±$40kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,302±$113Highest 8% below U.S. |
$666±$334Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$794±$52 44% below U.S. |
$1,027±$535 27% below U.S. |
| Montpelier and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$4,027 29% above U.S. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$6,435 106% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.4%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±25.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.8%±21.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Olean and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 31% below U.S. |
19 min 30% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.3%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Waterbury and Montpelier 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 | #9 of 70 in VT | #337 of 484 in NY | #337 of 484 in NY | #20 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Montpelier Roxbury Unified Union School District #71 | — | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | Montpelier High School | — | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
— | 12.2Highest |
— |
| 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.