Compare towns
Vershire vs Olean vs Chelsea vs Waterville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Vershire has the highest household income ($72k).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Chelsea has the most expensive homes ($261k median).
Waterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
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 | Vershire | Olean | Chelsea | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 842 |
13,738Highest |
1,223 |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.7±9.3 17% above U.S. |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
54.1±12.1Highest 39% above U.S. |
49.1±8.2 26% above U.S. |
| Chelsea and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±8.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Olean and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chelsea and Vershire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Waterville and Vershire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,618±$12kHighest 11% below U.S. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$65,913±$13k 18% below U.S. |
$71,250±$27k 12% below U.S. |
| Vershire and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $209,100±$55k 37% below U.S. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$260,900±$39kHighest 22% below U.S. |
$236,300±$15k 29% below U.S. |
| Chelsea and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,117±$80 21% below U.S. |
$794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$1,524±$467Highest 8% above U.S. |
$1,110±$93 21% below U.S. |
| Chelsea and Vershire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,640Highest 49% above U.S. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,762 21% above U.S. |
$3,957 27% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 77.8%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.3%±33.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±27.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Vershire and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 19.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 23% above U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±7.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chelsea 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 | — | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | First Branch Unified School District #82 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | — | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2 |
— | — |
| 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.