Compare towns

Olean vs Westford vs Gerry

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 shortest commute (19 min average).
Westford has the most people working from home (19.1%).
Gerry has the most affordable homes ($119k median).

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.

MeasureOleanWestfordGerry
People
Population
1,664Lowest
2,290Highest
1,668
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-6.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
53.8±5.5Highest
38% above U.S.
44.1±8.6Lowest
13% above U.S.
52.4±5.7
35% above U.S.
Olean and Gerry 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%
16.9%±4.6
U.S.: 22%
20.9%±3.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
Gerry and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
25.2%±5.1
U.S.: 17.2%
17.2%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
29.9%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Gerry and Olean 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%
52.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
23.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.5%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
9.5%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.4%±2.3
U.S.: 6.4%
Westford and Gerry 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.
$112,750±$12kHighest
40% above U.S.
$68,667±$12kLowest
15% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$158,600±$17k
52% below U.S.
$424,500±$21kHighest
28% above U.S.
$119,200±$10kLowest
64% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$666±$334Lowest
53% below U.S.
$2,375±$1kHighest
68% above U.S.
$1,138±$260
19% below U.S.
Westford and Gerry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,027
29% above U.S.
$6,282Highest
101% above U.S.
$2,606Lowest
16% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.1%±25.5
U.S.: 51.1%
29.8%±31Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
61.2%±16.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Gerry and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
16.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
77.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1962Lowest
18 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1967
13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
30% below U.S.
33 minHighest
26% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
5.8%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.1%±6.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.2%±4.2
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #337 of 484 in NY — —
School district — Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 CASSADAGA VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town — None in town CASSADAGA VALLEY MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school — —
8.7
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.