Compare towns

Olean vs Calais vs Ferrisburgh

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 ($86k median).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Ferrisburgh has the oldest population (median age 45.5).

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.

MeasureOleanCalaisFerrisburgh
People
Population
13,738Highest
1,713Lowest
2,661
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39±2.6Lowest
about the U.S. average
42±8.6
8% above U.S.
45.5±4.9Highest
17% above U.S.
Ferrisburgh and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
23.5%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
22.5%±5.4
U.S.: 22%
17.2%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Olean and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.1%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.6%±5.2
U.S.: 17.2%
23.3%±3.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Ferrisburgh and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
29.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
55.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
51.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.6%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
7.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Calais and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$51,261±$7kLowest
37% below U.S.
$100,625±$27k
25% above U.S.
$106,989±$22kHighest
33% above U.S.
Ferrisburgh and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$86,100±$6kLowest
74% below U.S.
$390,300±$36k
17% above U.S.
$422,700±$35kHighest
27% above U.S.
Ferrisburgh and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$794±$52Lowest
44% below U.S.
$1,408±$392
about the U.S. average
$1,435±$173Highest
about the U.S. average
Ferrisburgh and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,130Lowest
about the U.S. average
$6,586Highest
111% above U.S.
$6,120
96% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52%±9.1
U.S.: 51.1%
49%±38.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
57%±19.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Ferrisburgh and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
26.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
55.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
14 minLowest
45% below U.S.
31 minHighest
18% above U.S.
28 min
8% above U.S.
Work from home
8.4%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.4%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.6%±4.2
U.S.: 15.1%
Calais and Ferrisburgh 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 — #7 of 70 in VT
School district OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Addison Northwest Unified Union School District #54
High school in town OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.2
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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.