Compare towns
Olean vs Putney vs Westminster 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 affordable homes ($86k median).
Putney has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.1%).
Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).
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 | Westminster | Olean |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 13,738Highest |
2,622 |
2,999 |
1,664Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1%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. |
53.5±3.7 38% above U.S. |
53.8±5.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Olean and Westminster 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%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Olean and Westminster 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% |
27.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster 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% |
46.3% 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% |
4.4%±3.1 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 |
$71,491±$4k 11% 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. |
$273,800±$35k 18% below U.S. |
$158,600±$17k 52% below U.S. |
| Putney and Westminster 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. |
$916±$126Highest 35% below U.S. |
$666±$334 53% below U.S. |
| Westminster 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. |
$4,063 30% 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% |
49.2%±7.5Lowest 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% |
8.8%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% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as 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 10% 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% |
27%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Westminster 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 | #53 of 70 in VT | #337 of 484 in NY |
| School district | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | — |
| High school in town | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
— | 10.6Lowest |
— |
| 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.