Compare towns
Waterville vs Olean vs Johnson
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 shortest commute (14 min average).
Johnson has the youngest population (median age 30.9).
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 | Johnson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 680Lowest |
13,738Highest |
3,450 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
39±2.6 about the U.S. average |
30.9±6.5Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Waterville and Olean 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% |
22.7%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Olean and Johnson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.4%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
10.8%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Olean and Waterville 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% |
32.2%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% |
14.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$27kHighest 12% below U.S. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$55,346±$14k 31% below U.S. |
| Waterville and Johnson 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. |
$169,400±$62k 49% below U.S. |
| Waterville and Johnson 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. |
$948±$45 33% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,957Highest 27% above U.S. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,310 6% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±20.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Olean and Johnson 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% |
12.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.8%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Johnson 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 | #57 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| 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.