What stands out worked out from the figures below

Olean has the most kids (23.5% under 18).

Chester has the most expensive homes ($233k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Olean	Chester
People
Population	13,738Highest	2,992Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average	49.7±4.7Highest 28% above U.S.
Kids under 18	23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22%	14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	19.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	33.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Chester 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.	$62,125±$8kHighest 23% below U.S.
	Chester and Olean 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.	$232,900±$44kHighest 30% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S.	$960±$44Highest 32% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average	$4,262Highest 37% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52%±9.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.	1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	14 minLowest 45% below U.S.	28 minHighest 5% above U.S.
Work from home	8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	14%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Chester and Olean 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	#49 of 70 in VT
School district	OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT	Green Mountain Unified School District #77
High school in town	OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	Green Mountain Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2Highest	8.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.