Compare towns
Washington vs Olean vs Gerry vs Topsham
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 (14 min average).
Topsham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
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 | Gerry | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,056 |
13,738Highest |
1,668 |
999Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.9±5.1Highest 36% above U.S. |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
52.4±5.7 35% above U.S. |
50.1±5.9 29% above U.S. |
| Washington and Gerry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Olean and Gerry 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% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.9%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gerry and Washington 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% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Olean and Gerry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,103±$8k 18% below U.S. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$68,667±$12k 15% below U.S. |
$72,308±$60kHighest 10% below U.S. |
| Topsham and Gerry 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. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$119,200±$10k 64% below U.S. |
$222,900±$56kHighest 33% below U.S. |
| Topsham and Washington 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. |
$794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$1,138±$260Highest 19% below U.S. |
$908±$398 36% below U.S. |
| Gerry and Washington 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. |
$3,130 about the U.S. average |
$2,606Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$4,006Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.5%±63.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.2%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
91.9%±28.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Topsham and Gerry 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% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Washington and Topsham 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 | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | CASSADAGA VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Waits River Union High District #36 |
| High school in town | None in town | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | CASSADAGA VALLEY MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2Highest |
8.7Lowest |
— |
| 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.