Compare towns
Putney vs Gerry vs Olean vs Westminster
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.1%).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).
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 | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
1,668Lowest |
13,738Highest |
2,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
52.4±5.7 35% above U.S. |
39±2.6 about the U.S. average |
53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Westminster and Gerry 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% |
18.2%±4.7 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% |
27.6%±6.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gerry and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| 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% |
46.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18kHighest about the U.S. average |
$68,667±$12k 15% below U.S. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$71,491±$4k 11% below U.S. |
| Putney and Westminster 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. |
$273,800±$35k 18% below U.S. |
| Putney and Westminster 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±$260Highest 19% below U.S. |
$794±$52 44% below U.S. |
$916±$126 35% below U.S. |
| Gerry and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313Highest 70% above U.S. |
$2,606Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$3,130 about the U.S. average |
$4,063 30% 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% |
49.2%±7.5Lowest 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% |
8.8%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% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 32% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below 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% |
27%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Westminster 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 | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | CASSADAGA VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District |
| High school in town | None in town | CASSADAGA VALLEY MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | Bellows Falls Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7Lowest |
12.2Highest |
10.6 |
| 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.