Compare towns
Olean vs Westminster vs Dummerston vs Massena
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 shortest commute (14 min average).
Westminster has the oldest population (median age 53.5).
Dummerston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
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 | Westminster | Dummerston | Massena |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 13,738Highest |
2,999 |
2,090Lowest |
10,238 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
42.6±4.7 10% above U.S. |
| Westminster and Dummerston 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% |
18.2%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Olean and Dummerston 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% |
27.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster and Dummerston 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% |
46.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Westminster and Olean 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. |
$71,491±$4k 11% below U.S. |
$101,696±$21kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$51,458±$7k 36% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$273,800±$35k 18% below U.S. |
$335,300±$22kHighest about the U.S. average |
$94,400±$15k 72% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$52 44% below U.S. |
$916±$126 35% below U.S. |
$1,392±$126Highest about the U.S. average |
$722±$44Lowest 49% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,063 30% above U.S. |
$4,536Highest 45% above U.S. |
$3,218 3% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.8%±11.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Massena 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% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
24.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1954 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 10% below U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
18 min 32% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.2%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Westminster and Dummerston 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 | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — |
| High school in town | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | Bellows Falls Union High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
10.6Lowest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.