Compare towns
Olean vs Ripton vs Starksboro
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).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Starksboro has the most kids (26.4% under 18).
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 | Ripton | Starksboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,738Highest |
508Lowest |
1,939 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±2.6 about the U.S. average |
47.7±14.2Highest 23% above U.S. |
38.2±4.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Ripton and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.4%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Starksboro and Olean 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$82,188±$15k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$287,700±$42k 14% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S. |
— | $1,306±$91Highest 8% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,915Highest 58% above U.S. |
$4,536 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
28.6%±26.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ripton 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% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Starksboro and Ripton 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 | — | — |
| School district | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 |
| High school in town | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.