Compare towns
West Haven vs Olean vs Dresden
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 Haven has the most people working from home (10.4%).
Olean has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Dresden has the oldest population (median age 59).
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 | West Haven | Olean | Dresden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 234Lowest |
1,664Highest |
551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -4.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-17.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54±10.5 39% above U.S. |
53.8±5.5Lowest 38% above U.S. |
59±2.8Highest 52% above U.S. |
| Dresden and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±13.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| West Haven and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.9%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| West Haven and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.4%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Olean and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,250±$29kHighest 6% above U.S. |
$74,583±$20k 8% below U.S. |
$64,180±$9kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| West Haven and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,000±$34kHighest 26% below U.S. |
$158,600±$17kLowest 52% below U.S. |
$191,500±$48k 42% below U.S. |
| West Haven and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $666±$334Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$1,066±$109Highest 25% below U.S. |
| Dresden and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,485Highest 44% above U.S. |
$4,027 29% above U.S. |
$3,138Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±25.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.4%±48.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Olean and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 4% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.4%±6.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.8%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| West Haven 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 | — |
| 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.