What stands out worked out from the figures below

Royalton has the most expensive homes ($263k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Royalton	Olean
People
Population	2,752Lowest	13,738Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.9±10.1Highest 13% above U.S.	39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average
	Royalton and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.4%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 22%	23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	22.1%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Royalton and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Royalton and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$103,938±$24kHighest 29% above U.S.	$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$263,200±$73kHighest 21% below U.S.	$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,040±$391Highest 26% below U.S.	$794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S.
	Royalton and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,675Highest 50% above U.S.	$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	36.7%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	52%±9.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Olean and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	63.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1965Highest 15 yrs older than U.S.	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minHighest 23% below U.S.	14 minLowest 45% below U.S.
Work from home	17.8%±7.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Royalton and Olean 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	#48 of 70 in VT	#337 of 484 in NY
School district	White River Unified School District #79	OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	White River Valley High School	OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	8.7Lowest	12.2Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.