Compare towns
Olean vs Putney vs Chester vs Johnson City
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 kids (23.5% under 18).
Putney has the most expensive homes ($300k median).
Chester has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
Johnson City has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
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 | Johnson City |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 13,738 |
2,622Lowest |
2,992 |
14,940Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1%Highest 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. |
40.7±3.4 5% 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% |
18.1%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Olean and Johnson City 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% |
29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester and Johnson City are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.6%Lowest 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% |
9%±2.2 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. |
$56,283±$4k 30% 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. |
$117,100±$4k 65% 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±$44 32% below U.S. |
$1,031±$66Highest 27% below U.S. |
| Johnson City and Chester 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 |
$5,313Highest 70% above U.S. |
$4,262 37% above U.S. |
$3,982 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.8%±10.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Johnson City and Putney 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% |
19.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.3%Lowest 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. |
1949 31 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. |
17 min 38% below 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% |
9.7%±3.4 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 | 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.