Compare towns
Strafford vs Olean vs Cornwall vs South Hero
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 kids (23% under 18).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($159k median).
Cornwall has the most homeowners (94.3%).
South Hero has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).
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 | Olean | Cornwall | South Hero |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,372 |
1,664Highest |
1,208Lowest |
1,586 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
53.8±5.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
50.4±4.6Lowest 30% above U.S. |
51.5±4.8 32% above U.S. |
| Olean and South Hero 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% |
15.6%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
14.8%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.7%±6.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| South Hero and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
$74,583±$20kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$114,583±$32k 42% above U.S. |
$127,434±$15kHighest 58% above U.S. |
| South Hero and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
$158,600±$17kLowest 52% below U.S. |
$458,000±$49k 38% above U.S. |
$558,300±$46kHighest 68% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
$666±$334Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$1,125±$206 20% below U.S. |
$1,439±$221Highest about the U.S. average |
| South Hero and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,149 129% above U.S. |
$4,027Lowest 29% above U.S. |
$6,726 116% above U.S. |
$7,858Highest 152% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±25.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±65.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.6%±21Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Cornwall and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
0.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.3%±8.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| South Hero and Cornwall 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 | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | South Hero School District |
| 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 | 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.