Compare towns
Pittsford vs Olean vs Brandon vs Hardwick
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).
Brandon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
Hardwick has the highest household income ($92k).
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 | Pittsford | Olean | Brandon | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,892Lowest |
13,738Highest |
4,120 |
2,965 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.7±6.3 23% above U.S. |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
50.1±3.1Highest 29% above U.S. |
47.1±7.4 21% above U.S. |
| Brandon and Pittsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Olean and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.4%±6.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
27%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hardwick and Pittsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Olean and Pittsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,705±$7k 14% below U.S. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$64,180±$12k 21% below U.S. |
$92,297±$17kHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Hardwick and Pittsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $197,000±$33k 41% below U.S. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$227,800±$23kHighest 32% below U.S. |
$184,700±$39k 44% below U.S. |
| Brandon and Pittsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $781±$167Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$794±$52 44% below U.S. |
$1,064±$225Highest 25% below U.S. |
$875±$406 38% below U.S. |
| Brandon and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,378 8% above U.S. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,241 36% above U.S. |
$4,351Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±15.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±41.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Olean and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1951 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.1%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hardwick and Pittsford 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 | #54 of 70 in VT | #337 of 484 in NY | #69 of 70 in VT | #68 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 |
| High school in town | None in town | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | Otter Valley Union High School | Hazen Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2Highest |
9.9 |
8.6Lowest |
| 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.