Compare towns

Olean vs Walpole vs Westminster

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).
Walpole has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.7%).
Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).

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.

MeasureOleanWalpoleWestminster
People
Population
13,738Highest
3,690
2,999Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-5.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39±2.6Lowest
about the U.S. average
46.5±10.4
20% above U.S.
53.5±3.7Highest
38% above U.S.
Westminster and Walpole 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%
22.2%±5.2
U.S.: 22%
18.2%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Olean and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.1%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
25.5%±5.4
U.S.: 17.2%
27.6%±6.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Westminster and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
29.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
32.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
46.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.6%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4%±2.8
U.S.: 6.4%
4.4%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Westminster and Walpole 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.
$82,617±$16kHighest
about the U.S. average
$71,491±$4k
11% below U.S.
Walpole and Westminster 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.
$319,800±$48kHighest
4% below U.S.
$273,800±$35k
18% below U.S.
Walpole and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$794±$52Lowest
44% below U.S.
$1,165±$150Highest
18% below U.S.
$916±$126
35% below U.S.
Walpole and Westminster 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
$6,078Highest
95% above U.S.
$4,063
30% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52%±9.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
51.6%±21.9
U.S.: 51.1%
49.2%±7.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Olean and Walpole 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%
11.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
55.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
69.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
88.2%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1967
13 yrs older than U.S.
1980Highest
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
14 minLowest
45% below U.S.
23 min
13% below U.S.
24 minHighest
10% below U.S.
Work from home
8.4%±2.6
U.S.: 15.1%
7.2%±4.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
27%±6.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #337 of 484 in NY #27 of 120 in NH #53 of 70 in VT
School district OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT Fall Mountain Regional School District 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 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.