Compare towns

Olean vs Westminster vs Townshend

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).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
Townshend has the oldest population (median age 55.6).

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.

MeasureOleanWestminsterTownshend
People
Population
13,738Highest
497Lowest
1,538
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+4.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39±2.6Lowest
about the U.S. average
43.3±11.5
11% above U.S.
55.6±9.6Highest
43% above U.S.
Townshend and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
23.5%±2.9
U.S.: 22%
28.4%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
12%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Westminster and Olean 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%
19.7%±11.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.3%±6.6
U.S.: 17.2%
Westminster and Townshend 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%
45.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
52.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.6%±1.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.2%±3.5
U.S.: 6.4%
1.4%±0.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Olean and Westminster 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.
$81,000±$22kHighest
about the U.S. average
$78,750±$29k
about the U.S. average
Westminster and Townshend 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.
$313,600±$39kHighest
6% below U.S.
$287,200±$79k
14% below U.S.
Westminster and Townshend 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.
$749±$315Lowest
47% below U.S.
$1,074±$80Highest
24% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,130Lowest
about the U.S. average
$4,480
44% above U.S.
$5,364Highest
72% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52%±9.1
U.S.: 51.1%
6.1%±43.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
72.5%±23.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Townshend 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%
2.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
55.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
82.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
14 minLowest
45% below U.S.
30 minHighest
13% above U.S.
25 min
5% below U.S.
Work from home
8.4%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.1%±15.9
U.S.: 15.1%
28%±18.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Townshend and Westminster 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 #53 of 70 in VT —
School district OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT — West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A
High school in town OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL — Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.2Highest
—
8.1Lowest
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.