Compare towns
Olean vs Putney vs Chester
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 most expensive homes ($300k median).
Chester has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
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.
| Measure | Olean | Putney | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,738Highest |
2,622Lowest |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±2.6 about the U.S. average |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
49.7±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$79,706±$18kHighest about the U.S. average |
$62,125±$8k 23% below U.S. |
| Putney and Chester 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. |
$232,900±$44k 30% below U.S. |
| Putney and Chester 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. |
$960±$44Highest 32% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$5,313Highest 70% above U.S. |
$4,262 37% 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% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest 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% |
7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 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 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Putney and Chester 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 | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
— | 8.7Lowest |
| 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.