Compare towns
Newfane vs Olean vs Wardsboro vs Townshend
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).
Wardsboro has the most expensive homes ($299k median).
Townshend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
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 | Wardsboro | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,456 |
13,738Highest |
820Lowest |
1,538 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.4±3.9 40% above U.S. |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
51.6±7.3 33% above U.S. |
55.6±9.6Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Townshend 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% |
18.8%±6.5 U.S.: 22% |
12%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Olean 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% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±6.6 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Olean and Newfane 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. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$62,000±$6k 23% below U.S. |
$78,750±$29kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Townshend and Newfane 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. |
$299,300±$47kHighest 10% below U.S. |
$287,200±$79k 14% below U.S. |
| Wardsboro and Townshend 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. |
$794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$1,479±$224Highest 5% above U.S. |
$1,074±$80 24% below U.S. |
| Wardsboro and Newfane 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 |
$4,345 39% above U.S. |
$5,364Highest 72% 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% |
54.5%±58 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townshend 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% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.8%±12.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
28%±18.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfane and Townshend 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 | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | None in town | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2Highest |
— | 8.1Lowest |
| 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.