Compare towns
Waterville vs Cavendish vs Olean
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waterville has the most kids (20.4% under 18).
Cavendish has the most people working from home (18.5%).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($159k median).
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 | Waterville | Cavendish | Olean |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 680Lowest |
1,242 |
1,664Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2 26% above U.S. |
45.2±5.9Lowest 16% above U.S. |
53.8±5.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Olean and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±8.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Waterville and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.6%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Olean and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Waterville and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$27kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$89,063±$29kHighest 10% above U.S. |
$74,583±$20k 8% below U.S. |
| Cavendish and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $236,300±$15k 29% below U.S. |
$285,100±$40kHighest 14% below U.S. |
$158,600±$17kLowest 52% below U.S. |
| Cavendish and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$93Highest 21% below U.S. |
$1,000±$546 29% below U.S. |
$666±$334Lowest 53% below U.S. |
| Waterville and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,957 27% above U.S. |
$3,948Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$4,027Highest 29% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
28.9%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±25.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Olean and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #337 of 484 in NY |
| School district | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 18 photos → | 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.