Compare towns
Westford vs Olean vs Calais
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Westford has the highest household income ($113k).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
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 | Westford | Olean | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,290 |
13,738Highest |
1,713Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±8.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
42±8.6 8% above U.S. |
| Westford and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Olean and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Calais and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Westford and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,750±$12kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
| Westford and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $424,500±$21kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
| Westford and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,375±$1kHighest 68% above U.S. |
$794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
| Westford and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,282 101% above U.S. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.8%±31Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Olean and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.1%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Calais and Westford 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 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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 | 6 photos → | 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.