Compare towns

Olean vs Putney vs Brookline

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).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).

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.

MeasureOleanPutneyBrookline
People
Population
13,738Highest
2,622
531Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39±2.6
about the U.S. average
37.2±5.2Lowest
4% below U.S.
45.1±2.7Highest
16% above U.S.
Kids under 18
23.5%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.4%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20%±6
U.S.: 22%
Olean and Brookline 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%
18.1%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.6%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Brookline and Olean 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%
48.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
41.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.6%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
20.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.2%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$51,261±$7kLowest
37% below U.S.
$79,706±$18k
about the U.S. average
$80,833±$16kHighest
about the U.S. average
Brookline and Putney 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.
$300,000±$44kHighest
10% below U.S.
$290,700±$37k
13% below U.S.
Putney and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$794±$52
44% below U.S.
$508±$482Lowest
64% below U.S.
$1,732±$232Highest
23% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,130Lowest
about the U.S. average
$5,313Highest
70% above U.S.
$5,000
60% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52%±9.1
U.S.: 51.1%
54.2%±19.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
47.8%±94.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Putney 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%
16%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
55.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
72.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
84.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
14 minLowest
45% below U.S.
18 min
32% below U.S.
28 minHighest
8% above U.S.
Work from home
8.4%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.9%±6.5
U.S.: 15.1%
20.6%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Brookline and Putney 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 #32 of 70 in VT —
School district OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 —
High school in town OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL None in town —
Students per teacherat that high school
12.2
— —
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.