Compare towns
Putney vs Olean vs Brookline vs Randolph
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).
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 | Olean | Brookline | Randolph |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
13,738Highest |
531Lowest |
4,843 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
39±2.6 about the U.S. average |
45.1±2.7Highest 16% above U.S. |
40.4±7.4 4% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Randolph 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% |
23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
20%±6 U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Olean and Brookline 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% |
19.1%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Randolph and Brookline 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% |
29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
11.2%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$80,833±$16kHighest about the U.S. average |
$76,758±$6k 5% below U.S. |
| 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. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$290,700±$37k 13% below U.S. |
$278,700±$38k 16% 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. |
$794±$52 44% below U.S. |
$1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,172±$173 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313Highest 70% above U.S. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$5,000 60% above U.S. |
$4,698 51% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±94.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.1%±17.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney and Randolph 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% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 32% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±4.7 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 | — | #55 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | None in town | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — | Randolph Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2Highest |
— | 9.4Lowest |
| 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.