Compare towns

Westford vs Olean vs Milton vs Underhill

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 oldest population (median age 44.1).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Milton has the highest household income ($119k).
Underhill has the most kids (27.8% under 18).

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.

MeasureWestfordOleanMiltonUnderhill
People
Population
2,290Lowest
13,738Highest
10,769
3,141
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.1±8.6Highest
13% above U.S.
39±2.6
about the U.S. average
41.6±2.5
7% above U.S.
38.1±11.4Lowest
about the U.S. average
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%±2.9
U.S.: 22%
17.6%±3.4
U.S.: 22%
27.8%±10.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
Underhill and Olean 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%
17.6%±6
U.S.: 17.2%
Olean and Underhill 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%
50.1%
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%
3.5%±2Lowest
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.
$92,267±$54k
14% 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±$21k
28% above U.S.
$86,100±$6kLowest
74% below U.S.
$372,500±$20k
12% above U.S.
$446,000±$24kHighest
34% above U.S.
Underhill and Westford 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.
$1,536±$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
$6,282
101% above U.S.
$3,130Lowest
about the U.S. average
$5,610
80% above U.S.
$6,697Highest
115% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
29.8%±31
U.S.: 51.1%
52%±9.1
U.S.: 51.1%
53.1%±20.6Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±18.2Lowest
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%
6.4%
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%
79.8%
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.
1979
1 yr older 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.
33 min
24% above U.S.
Work from home
19.1%±6.9
U.S.: 15.1%
8.4%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.6%±2.9
U.S.: 15.1%
19.4%±11.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Underhill 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 #56 of 70 in VT #2 of 70 in VT
School district Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT Milton School District Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401
High school in town None in town OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL Milton Senior High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.2Highest
9.3Lowest
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 6 photos → 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.