Compare towns
Strafford vs Olean vs Cavendish 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).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Cavendish has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.8%).
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 | Olean | Cavendish | Vershire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,372 |
13,738Highest |
1,242 |
842Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.2±5.9 16% above U.S. |
45.7±9.3 17% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Vershire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Olean and Strafford 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% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.6%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cavendish 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% |
29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.9 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. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$89,063±$29k 10% above U.S. |
$71,618±$12k 11% below 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 | $431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$285,100±$40k 14% below U.S. |
$209,100±$55k 37% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$789Highest 20% below U.S. |
$794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$1,000±$546 29% 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. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,948 27% above U.S. |
$4,640 49% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
28.9%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
77.8%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Vershire and Olean 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% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
19.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
19 min 30% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±4.1 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 | Strafford School District | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 18 photos → | 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.