Compare towns
Olean vs Strafford vs Vershire
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Olean has the most affordable homes ($159k median).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Vershire has the youngest population (median age 45.7).
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 | Olean | Strafford | Vershire |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,664Highest |
1,372 |
842Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±5.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
45.7±9.3Lowest 17% above U.S. |
| Olean and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Vershire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Olean and Vershire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Vershire and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,583±$20k 8% below U.S. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$71,618±$12kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Strafford and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $158,600±$17kLowest 52% below U.S. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$209,100±$55k 37% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $666±$334Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789Highest 20% below U.S. |
$1,117±$80 21% below U.S. |
| Strafford and Vershire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,027Lowest 29% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$4,640 49% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±25.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
77.8%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Vershire and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
19.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 5.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Strafford and Vershire 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 | — | Strafford School District | — |
| High school 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.