Compare towns
Putney vs Gerry vs Olean vs Brookline
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
Gerry has the oldest population (median age 52.4).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
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 | Putney | Gerry | Olean | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
1,668 |
13,738Highest |
531Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
52.4±5.7Highest 35% above U.S. |
39±2.6 about the U.S. average |
45.1±2.7 16% above U.S. |
| Gerry and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
20%±6 U.S.: 22% |
| Olean and Gerry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.9%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$68,667±$12k 15% below U.S. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$80,833±$16kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Brookline and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $300,000±$44kHighest 10% below U.S. |
$119,200±$10k 64% below U.S. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$290,700±$37k 13% below U.S. |
| Putney and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,138±$260 19% below U.S. |
$794±$52 44% below U.S. |
$1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313Highest 70% above U.S. |
$2,606Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$3,130 about the U.S. average |
$5,000 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.2%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±94.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gerry and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16% U.S.: 12.5% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 32% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookline and Putney 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | — | #337 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | CASSADAGA VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | None in town | CASSADAGA VALLEY MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7Lowest |
12.2Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.