Compare towns
Stowe vs Olean vs Waterbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($159k median).
Waterbury has the most people working from home (28.3%).
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 | Stowe | Olean | Waterbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,285 |
1,664Lowest |
5,405Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.3±7.6 19% above U.S. |
53.8±5.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
43.2±3.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Olean and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Stowe and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stowe and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Waterbury and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,618±$33k 16% above U.S. |
$74,583±$20kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$103,917±$23kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Waterbury and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $647,800±$157kHighest 95% above U.S. |
$158,600±$17kLowest 52% below U.S. |
$447,200±$40k 34% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,458±$242Highest 3% above U.S. |
$666±$334Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$1,027±$535 27% below U.S. |
| Stowe and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,161Highest 130% above U.S. |
$4,027Lowest 29% above U.S. |
$6,435 106% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.5%±15.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±25.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.8%±21.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Olean and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.4%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.3%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Waterbury and Stowe 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 | #20 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Stowe Town School District | — | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | Stowe High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.