Compare towns
Waterville vs Olean vs Sutton vs Belvidere
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 oldest population (median age 49.1).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Sutton has the most people working from home (11.6%).
Belvidere has the highest household income ($82k).
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 | Sutton | Belvidere |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 680 |
13,738Highest |
790 |
422Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-11.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
46.6±5.7 20% above U.S. |
40.7±6.5 5% above U.S. |
| Waterville and Sutton 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% |
17.3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Olean and Belvidere 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%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
8.8%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sutton 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% |
32.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.9%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% |
2.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±1.3Lowest 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. |
$71,250±$18k 12% below U.S. |
$81,563±$18kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Belvidere 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. |
$231,100±$41k 31% below U.S. |
$239,200±$51kHighest 28% below U.S. |
| Belvidere 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. |
— | $1,542±$1kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Belvidere 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 |
$3,975Highest 27% above U.S. |
$3,908 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±31.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±53.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Belvidere 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% |
12.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Belvidere 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 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | — |
| 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 | 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.