Compare towns
Pittsford vs Olean vs Hardwick vs Chester
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).
Hardwick has the highest household income ($92k).
Chester has the most people working from home (14%).
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 | Hardwick | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,892Lowest |
13,738Highest |
2,965 |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.7±6.3 23% above U.S. |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
47.1±7.4 21% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Chester and Pittsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 25.4%±6.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester and Hardwick 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% |
33.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester and Olean 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. |
$92,297±$17kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$62,125±$8k 23% below 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. |
$184,700±$39k 44% below U.S. |
$232,900±$44kHighest 30% below U.S. |
| Chester 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. |
$875±$406 38% below U.S. |
$960±$44Highest 32% below U.S. |
| Chester 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 |
$4,351Highest 39% above U.S. |
$4,262 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.5%±12.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±41.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest 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% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.1%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chester and Hardwick 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 | #68 of 70 in VT | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | None in town | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | Hazen Union High School | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2Highest |
8.6Lowest |
8.7 |
| 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.