Compare towns
Newfane vs Olean vs Putney vs Fairlee
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 ($86k median).
Putney has the highest household income ($80k).
Fairlee has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
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 | Newfane | Olean | Putney | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,456 |
13,738Highest |
2,622 |
1,066Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.4±3.9 40% above U.S. |
39±2.6 about the U.S. average |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
56.2±8.7Highest 44% above U.S. |
| Fairlee and Newfane 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% |
23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
12.2%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 29.2%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Fairlee and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,719±$21k 17% below U.S. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$79,706±$18kHighest about the U.S. average |
$74,760±$10k 7% below U.S. |
| Putney and Fairlee 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. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$300,000±$44kHighest 10% below U.S. |
$274,200±$39k 18% below U.S. |
| Putney and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,266±$238Highest 10% below U.S. |
$794±$52 44% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,083±$242 23% below U.S. |
| Newfane and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,174 66% above U.S. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
$5,617Highest 80% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.9%±79.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
89.2%±71.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fairlee and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
16% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
18 min 32% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.8%±12.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfane and Putney 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.