Compare towns

Strafford vs Vershire vs Olean

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).

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.

MeasureStraffordVershireOlean
People
Population
1,372
842Lowest
13,738Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-7.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
51.4±4.7Highest
32% above U.S.
45.7±9.3
17% above U.S.
39±2.6Lowest
about the U.S. average
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%
19.1%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.5%±2.9Highest
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%
22.2%±5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.1%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Vershire and Strafford 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%
31.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
29.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.1%±2.6
U.S.: 6.4%
5.2%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.6%±1.1Lowest
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.
$71,618±$12k
11% below U.S.
$51,261±$7kLowest
37% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$431,300±$40kHighest
30% above U.S.
$209,100±$55k
37% below U.S.
$86,100±$6kLowest
74% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,125±$789Highest
20% below U.S.
$1,117±$80
21% below U.S.
$794±$52Lowest
44% 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.
$4,640
49% above U.S.
$3,130Lowest
about the U.S. average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.6%±48Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
77.8%±24.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
52%±9.1
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%
19.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
26.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
88.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
55.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
same as U.S.
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 min
13% below U.S.
32 minHighest
23% above U.S.
14 minLowest
45% below U.S.
Work from home
16.1%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.3%±4.1
U.S.: 15.1%
8.4%±2.6Lowest
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 — OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town None in town — OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school — —
12.2
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.