Compare towns

West Fairlee vs Olean vs Bradford

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

West Fairlee has the most homeowners (91.9%).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($159k median).
Bradford has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.3%).

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.

MeasureWest FairleeOleanBradford
People
Population
711Lowest
1,664
2,827Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
50.3±7.6
29% above U.S.
53.8±5.5Highest
38% above U.S.
42.7±3.1Lowest
10% above U.S.
Olean and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
13.5%±5.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
15.6%±4.5
U.S.: 22%
20.1%±5.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
Bradford and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
29.7%±6.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
25.2%±5.1
U.S.: 17.2%
22.9%±5.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
West Fairlee and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
44.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
23.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
36.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.5%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
0.7%±1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
West Fairlee and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$76,500±$16k
5% below U.S.
$74,583±$20kLowest
8% below U.S.
$108,162±$15kHighest
34% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$237,200±$35k
29% below U.S.
$158,600±$17kLowest
52% below U.S.
$258,600±$30kHighest
22% below U.S.
Bradford and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,113±$171
21% below U.S.
$666±$334Lowest
53% below U.S.
$1,221±$808Highest
14% below U.S.
Bradford and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,210Highest
67% above U.S.
$4,027Lowest
29% above U.S.
$4,472
43% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50%±89.6
U.S.: 51.1%
57.1%±25.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
27.9%±23.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Olean and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
16.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
77.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978Highest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1962Lowest
18 yrs older than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
7% above U.S.
19 minLowest
30% below U.S.
25 min
7% below U.S.
Work from home
5.5%±5.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
5.8%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
7.7%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Bradford and Olean 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 #45 of 70 in VT
School district Rivendell Interstate School District — Oxbow Unified Union School District #91
High school in town None in town — Oxbow Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
9.5
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.