Compare towns
Waltham vs Olean vs Grafton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waltham has the most people working from home (20.6%).
Olean has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Grafton has the most homeowners (89.9%).
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 | Waltham | Olean | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 452Lowest |
13,738Highest |
666 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.8±7.3Highest 56% above U.S. |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
59.2±4.4 52% above U.S. |
| Waltham and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±7.4 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 45.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.1%±5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Grafton and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,500±$14kHighest 21% above U.S. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$76,111±$7k 6% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $329,700±$51k about the U.S. average |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$343,200±$85kHighest 3% above U.S. |
| Grafton and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$113 22% below U.S. |
$794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$1,288±$174Highest 9% below U.S. |
| Grafton and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,714Highest 83% above U.S. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,843 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±58.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.8%±69.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Grafton and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Waltham and Grafton 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 | Athens Grafton School District |
| High school 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 | 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.