Compare towns
Washington vs Olean vs Wells vs Orange
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washington has the most people working from home (14.9%).
Olean has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Orange has the youngest population (median age 50.3).
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 | Washington | Olean | Wells | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,056 |
1,664Highest |
1,148 |
957Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.9±5.1 36% above U.S. |
53.8±5.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
50.7±5.2 30% above U.S. |
50.3±5.3Lowest 29% above U.S. |
| Olean and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Washington and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Olean and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wells and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,103±$8kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$74,583±$20k 8% below U.S. |
$75,417±$11kHighest 7% below U.S. |
$71,302±$13k 12% below U.S. |
| Wells and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$37k 35% below U.S. |
$158,600±$17kLowest 52% below U.S. |
$243,000±$42kHighest 27% below U.S. |
$222,000±$22k 33% below U.S. |
| Wells and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $996±$285 30% below U.S. |
$666±$334Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$1,313±$282 7% below U.S. |
$1,330±$153Highest 6% below U.S. |
| Orange and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,485 12% above U.S. |
$4,027Highest 29% above U.S. |
$3,308Lowest 6% above U.S. |
$3,545 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.5%±63.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±25.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.5%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±87Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wells and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
48 minHighest 80% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Washington and Orange 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 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | — | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 |
| 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.