Compare towns

Olean vs Plainfield vs St. George vs Worcester

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).
Plainfield has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
St. George has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).

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.

MeasureOleanPlainfieldSt. GeorgeWorcester
People
Population
13,738Highest
1,314
812Lowest
831
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+17.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39±2.6Lowest
about the U.S. average
48.1±5.5Highest
24% above U.S.
44.7±13.4
15% above U.S.
47±2.7
21% above U.S.
Plainfield and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
23.5%±2.9
U.S.: 22%
16.3%±4.7
U.S.: 22%
25.6%±7Highest
U.S.: 22%
12.8%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
St. George and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.1%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
21.1%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.9%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.5%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
Plainfield and Worcester 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%
48.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
53.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
53%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.6%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
2.1%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.9%±3.9
U.S.: 6.4%
6.9%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Worcester and St. George 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.
$69,250±$31k
14% below U.S.
$109,464±$34kHighest
36% above U.S.
$73,833±$18k
9% below U.S.
St. George and Worcester 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.
$318,400±$34k
4% below U.S.
$376,800±$50kHighest
13% above U.S.
$271,100±$27k
19% below U.S.
St. George and Plainfield 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.
$1,153±$103
18% below U.S.
$1,394±$132Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,023±$136
28% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,130Lowest
about the U.S. average
$4,806
54% above U.S.
$5,514Highest
77% above U.S.
$4,421
42% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52%±9.1
U.S.: 51.1%
73.2%±53.9
U.S.: 51.1%
96%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
25.5%±37Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
St. George and Plainfield 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%
11.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
55.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
91.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1955
25 yrs older than U.S.
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
14 minLowest
45% below U.S.
24 min
9% below U.S.
19 min
28% below U.S.
29 minHighest
9% above U.S.
Work from home
8.4%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.4%±4.4
U.S.: 15.1%
27.6%±8.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.6%±4.8
U.S.: 15.1%
St. George and Worcester 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 OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT — — Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
High school in town OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL — — None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.2
— — —
On TownTapestry
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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.