Compare towns

Newark vs Olean vs Brighton

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Newark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.5%).
Olean has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Brighton has the most renters (48.9% rent).

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.

MeasureNewarkOleanBrighton
People
Population
727Lowest
1,664Highest
1,167
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
-5.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.4±6Lowest
6% above U.S.
53.8±5.5Highest
38% above U.S.
45.2±11.6
16% above U.S.
Olean and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22%±3Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.6%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.3%±5.7
U.S.: 22%
Newark and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.9%±5.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
25.2%±5.1
U.S.: 17.2%
27.2%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Brighton and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
41%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
23.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
25.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.6%±0.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.5%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
4.6%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Brighton and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$72,929±$7k
10% below U.S.
$74,583±$20kHighest
8% below U.S.
$47,375±$21kLowest
41% below U.S.
Olean and Newark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$229,900±$23kHighest
31% below U.S.
$158,600±$17kLowest
52% below U.S.
$163,900±$39k
51% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,708±$97Highest
21% above U.S.
$666±$334Lowest
53% below U.S.
$775±$33
45% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,771
21% above U.S.
$4,027Highest
29% above U.S.
$3,360Lowest
8% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
7.1%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
57.1%±25.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
55%±17
U.S.: 51.1%
Olean and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
22.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
16.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
22%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
77.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
51.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980Highest
same as U.S.
1962Lowest
18 yrs older than U.S.
1967
13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
28% above U.S.
19 minLowest
30% below U.S.
33 min
25% above U.S.
Work from home
13.8%±8.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
5.8%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.4%±8.1
U.S.: 15.1%
Newark and Brighton 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 Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 — Brighton School District
High school in town None 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.