Compare towns
Strafford vs Massena vs Olean vs Vershire
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Massena has the most affordable homes ($94k median).
Olean has the oldest population (median age 53.8).
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 | Strafford | Massena | Olean | Vershire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,372 |
10,238Highest |
1,664 |
842Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
42.6±4.7Lowest 10% above U.S. |
53.8±5.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
45.7±9.3 17% 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 | 23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Massena are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Olean and Vershire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Vershire and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$51,458±$7kLowest 36% below U.S. |
$74,583±$20k 8% below U.S. |
$71,618±$12k 11% below U.S. |
| Strafford and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$94,400±$15kLowest 72% below U.S. |
$158,600±$17k 52% below U.S. |
$209,100±$55k 37% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$789Highest 20% below U.S. |
$722±$44 49% below U.S. |
$666±$334Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$1,117±$80 21% below U.S. |
| Strafford and Vershire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$3,218Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$4,027 29% above U.S. |
$4,640 49% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.8%±11.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±25.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
77.8%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Vershire and Massena are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
24.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
19.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
19 min 30% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.2%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.8%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Strafford and Vershire 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 | Strafford School District | — | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.