Compare towns
Waterville vs Olean vs Benson
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 680Lowest |
13,738Highest |
784 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2 26% above U.S. |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
51.9±9.4Highest 33% above U.S. |
| Benson 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% |
23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Olean 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% |
19.1%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8Highest 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±$27k 12% below U.S. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$78,625±$8kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Benson and Waterville 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. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$242,000±$26kHighest 27% below U.S. |
| Benson and Waterville 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. |
$794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$1,113±$170Highest 21% below U.S. |
| Benson 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. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,125Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Benson 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% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4Highest 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 | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| 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.