Compare towns

Newfane vs Olean vs Brookline vs Wardsboro

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($159k median).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Wardsboro has the most homeowners (90.4%).

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.

MeasureNewfaneOleanBrooklineWardsboro
People
Population
1,456
1,664Highest
531Lowest
820
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
54.4±3.9Highest
40% above U.S.
53.8±5.5
38% above U.S.
45.1±2.7Lowest
16% above U.S.
51.6±7.3
33% above U.S.
Newfane and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
11.1%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
15.6%±4.5
U.S.: 22%
20%±6Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.8%±6.5
U.S.: 22%
Brookline and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
29.2%±3.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
25.2%±5.1
U.S.: 17.2%
19.6%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
27.4%±3.1
U.S.: 17.2%
Newfane and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
46.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
23.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
41.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
38.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.4%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
2.5%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
3.2%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
0.9%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Brookline and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$66,719±$21k
17% below U.S.
$74,583±$20k
8% below U.S.
$80,833±$16kHighest
about the U.S. average
$62,000±$6kLowest
23% below U.S.
Brookline and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$284,200±$49k
15% below U.S.
$158,600±$17kLowest
52% below U.S.
$290,700±$37k
13% below U.S.
$299,300±$47kHighest
10% below U.S.
Wardsboro and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,266±$238
10% below U.S.
$666±$334Lowest
53% below U.S.
$1,732±$232Highest
23% above U.S.
$1,479±$224
5% above U.S.
Brookline and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,174Highest
66% above U.S.
$4,027Lowest
29% above U.S.
$5,000
60% above U.S.
$4,345
39% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
51.9%±79.7
U.S.: 51.1%
57.1%±25.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
47.8%±94.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
54.5%±58
U.S.: 51.1%
Olean and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
10.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
16.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
77.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
90.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1962Lowest
18 yrs older than U.S.
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
1978Highest
2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
19 minLowest
30% below U.S.
28 minHighest
8% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
30.8%±12.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
5.8%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.6%±5.2
U.S.: 15.1%
13.3%±5.1
U.S.: 15.1%
Newfane and Brookline 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 West River Valley Union Education District #72A — — River Valleys Unified School District #73
High school in town None in town — — None in town
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.