Compare towns
Westford vs Olean vs Milton
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 most people working from home (19.1%).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Milton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
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 | Milton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,290Lowest |
13,738Highest |
10,769 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±8.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.6±2.5 7% above U.S. |
| Westford and Milton 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% |
17.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Olean and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Olean and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,750±$12k 40% above U.S. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$118,977±$10kHighest 47% above U.S. |
| Milton and Westford 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. |
$372,500±$20k 12% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,375±$1kHighest 68% above U.S. |
$794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$1,536±$257 9% above U.S. |
| Westford and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,282Highest 101% above U.S. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$5,610 80% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.8%±31Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.1%±20.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Milton and Olean 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% |
3.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.1%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.6%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Westford and Milton 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 | #56 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Milton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | Milton Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2Highest |
9.3Lowest |
| 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.