Compare towns
Waterville vs Olean vs Benson vs Fletcher
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).
Olean has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Fletcher has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.4%).
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 | Olean | Benson | Fletcher |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 680Lowest |
1,664Highest |
784 |
1,196 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2 26% above U.S. |
53.8±5.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
48.7±7.3Lowest 25% above U.S. |
| Olean and Benson 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% |
15.6%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
19%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Waterville and Fletcher 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% |
25.2%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Benson and Olean 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% |
23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Waterville 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. |
$74,583±$20k 8% below U.S. |
$78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
$105,833±$9kHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $236,300±$15k 29% below U.S. |
$158,600±$17kLowest 52% below U.S. |
$242,000±$26k 27% below U.S. |
$302,100±$37kHighest 9% below U.S. |
| Fletcher and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$93 21% below U.S. |
$666±$334Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$1,679±$427Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Fletcher and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,957Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$4,027 29% above U.S. |
$4,125 32% above U.S. |
$4,965Highest 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±25.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±78.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Olean and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Benson and Fletcher 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 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Fletcher School District |
| 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.