Compare towns
Sharon vs Strafford vs Olean vs Cavendish
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sharon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
Strafford has the highest household income ($111k).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($159k median).
Cavendish has the most people working from home (18.5%).
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 | Sharon | Strafford | Olean | Cavendish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,577 |
1,372 |
1,664Highest |
1,242Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7 17% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
53.8±5.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
45.2±5.9Lowest 16% above U.S. |
| Olean and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5 U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.1%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.6%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Olean and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,375±$17k 5% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$74,583±$20kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$89,063±$29k 10% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$37k 4% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$158,600±$17kLowest 52% below U.S. |
$285,100±$40k 14% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$155Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
$666±$334Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$1,000±$546 29% below U.S. |
| Sharon and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,903 89% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$4,027 29% above U.S. |
$3,948Lowest 27% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.8%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±25.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
28.9%±27 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Olean and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Cavendish and Strafford 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 | — | — | #337 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | Sharon School District | Strafford School District | — | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 18 photos → |
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.