Compare towns
Waterville vs Olean 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 most affordable homes ($86k median).
Derby Line has the most people working from home (13.5%).
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 | Derby Line |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 680Lowest |
13,738Highest |
783 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
46.7±13.3 20% above U.S. |
| Waterville and Derby Line are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±8.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±8.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Olean and Derby Line 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% |
24.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Derby Line 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% |
29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Waterville and Olean 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. |
$71,518±$25kHighest 11% below U.S. |
| Derby Line 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±$15kHighest 29% below U.S. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$201,000±$52k 40% below U.S. |
| Waterville and Derby Line 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. |
$794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$835±$334 41% below U.S. |
| Waterville and Derby Line are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,957Highest 27% above U.S. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,275 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
35.4%±24.3Lowest 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% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±9.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Derby Line and Waterville 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 | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | None in town | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — |
| 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.