Compare towns
Wells vs Olean vs Topsham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Topsham has the most people working from home (14.2%).
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 | Wells | Olean | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,148 |
13,738Highest |
999Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.7±5.2Highest 30% above U.S. |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
50.1±5.9 29% above U.S. |
| Wells and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Olean and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wells and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Olean and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,417±$11kHighest 7% below U.S. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$72,308±$60k 10% below U.S. |
| Wells and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $243,000±$42kHighest 27% below U.S. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$222,900±$56k 33% below U.S. |
| Wells and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,313±$282Highest 7% below U.S. |
$794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$908±$398 36% below U.S. |
| Wells and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,308 6% above U.S. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,006Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.5%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
91.9%±28.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Topsham and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 48 minHighest 80% above U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
35 min 32% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.3%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Topsham and Wells 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 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Waits River Union High District #36 |
| 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.