Compare towns
Olean vs Putney vs Chester vs Olean
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 most homeowners (86.7%).
Olean has the oldest population (median age 53.8).
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.
| Measure | Olean | Putney | Chester | Olean |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 13,738Highest |
2,622 |
2,992 |
1,664Lowest |
| 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% |
-4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±2.6 about the U.S. average |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
53.8±5.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Olean and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±4.5 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% |
25.2%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3%Lowest 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% |
5.1%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest 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. |
$74,583±$20k 8% below U.S. |
| Putney 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. |
$300,000±$44kHighest 10% below U.S. |
$232,900±$44k 30% below U.S. |
$158,600±$17k 52% 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. |
$666±$334 53% 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. |
$4,027 29% 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% |
57.1%±25.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Olean 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% |
16.3% 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% |
77.9% 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. |
1962 18 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. |
19 min 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.8%±4.7Lowest 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 | #337 of 484 in NY |
| 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.