Compare towns
Waterville vs Olean vs Vershire vs Derby Line
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 expensive homes ($236k median).
Olean has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Vershire has the youngest population (median age 45.7).
Derby Line has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
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 | Vershire | Derby Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 680Lowest |
1,664Highest |
842 |
783 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2 26% above U.S. |
53.8±5.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
45.7±9.3Lowest 17% above U.S. |
46.7±13.3 20% 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%±8.2 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±8.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Derby Line and Waterville 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%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.9%±6.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Olean and Derby Line 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% |
31.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Waterville and Vershire 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±$20kHighest 8% below U.S. |
$71,618±$12k 11% below U.S. |
$71,518±$25k 11% below U.S. |
| Olean and Vershire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $236,300±$15kHighest 29% below U.S. |
$158,600±$17kLowest 52% below U.S. |
$209,100±$55k 37% below U.S. |
$201,000±$52k 40% below U.S. |
| Waterville and Vershire 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. |
$1,117±$80Highest 21% below U.S. |
$835±$334 41% below U.S. |
| Vershire and Waterville 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. |
$4,027 29% above U.S. |
$4,640Highest 49% above U.S. |
$3,275Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±25.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
77.8%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
35.4%±24.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Vershire and Olean 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% |
16.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
19.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
83%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±9.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Derby Line and Vershire 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 | — | — | — |
| High school 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.