Compare towns
Waterbury vs Olean vs Essex
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waterbury has the most people working from home (28.3%).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Essex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.8%).
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 | Waterbury | Olean | Essex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,405Lowest |
13,738Highest |
11,516 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7Highest 11% above U.S. |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.4±1.9 9% above U.S. |
| Waterbury and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Olean and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Essex and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Olean and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,917±$23k 29% above U.S. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$110,199±$14kHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Essex and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $447,200±$40k 34% above U.S. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$447,300±$14kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Essex and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,027±$535 27% below U.S. |
$794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$1,569±$138Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Essex and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,435 106% above U.S. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$6,602Highest 112% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.8%±21.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.9%±13.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Olean and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.3%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.5%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Waterbury and Essex 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 | #20 of 70 in VT | #337 of 484 in NY | #13 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | None 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.