Compare towns
Putney vs Windham vs Olean
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).
Windham has the most people working from home (20.5%).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
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 | Windham | Olean |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,622 |
594Lowest |
13,738Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
44.2±7.4Highest 14% above U.S. |
39±2.6 about the U.S. average |
| Windham and Olean 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% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Olean and Windham 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% |
23.2%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windham and Olean 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% |
48.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$94,500±$12kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Windham 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±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$353,900±$20kHighest 6% above U.S. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
| Windham and Putney 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±$52Highest 44% below U.S. |
| Olean and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313 70% above U.S. |
$5,951Highest 91% above U.S. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney and Olean 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% |
9.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than 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. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham 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 | — | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | None in town | — | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.2 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.