Compare towns

Olean vs Putney vs Ripton 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 youngest population (median age 37.2).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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.

MeasureOleanPutneyRiptonOlean
People
Population
13,738Highest
2,622
508Lowest
1,664
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+25.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39±2.6
about the U.S. average
37.2±5.2Lowest
4% below U.S.
47.7±14.2
23% above U.S.
53.8±5.5Highest
38% above U.S.
Olean and Ripton 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%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
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%
30.5%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
25.2%±5.1
U.S.: 17.2%
Ripton 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%
48%
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%
20.1%±6.3
U.S.: 6.4%
2.5%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Putney and Ripton 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.
$79,706±$18k
about the U.S. average
$112,917±$15kHighest
40% above U.S.
$74,583±$20k
8% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$86,100±$6kLowest
74% below U.S.
$300,000±$44k
10% below U.S.
$394,400±$61kHighest
19% above U.S.
$158,600±$17k
52% below U.S.
Ripton and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$794±$52Highest
44% below U.S.
$508±$482Lowest
64% below U.S.
—
$666±$334
53% below U.S.
Olean and Olean 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.
$4,915
58% above U.S.
$4,027
29% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52%±9.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
54.2%±19.4
U.S.: 51.1%
52.9%±100
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%
8.6%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%
90.9%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.
1973
7 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.
24 minHighest
9% below U.S.
19 min
30% below U.S.
Work from home
8.4%±2.6
U.S.: 15.1%
16.9%±6.5
U.S.: 15.1%
17.2%±8.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
5.8%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Ripton 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 — #337 of 484 in NY
School district OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 —
High school in town OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL None in town None in town —
Students per teacherat that high school
12.2
— — —
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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.