Compare towns

Westminster vs Olean vs Windham vs Halifax

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Windham has the highest household income ($95k).
Halifax has the most people working from home (29.9%).

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.

MeasureWestminsterOleanWindhamHalifax
People
Population
497Lowest
13,738Highest
594
847
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-3.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+5.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.3±11.5
11% above U.S.
39±2.6Lowest
about the U.S. average
44.2±7.4Highest
14% above U.S.
40.6±13.1
4% above U.S.
Windham and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
28.4%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
23.5%±2.9
U.S.: 22%
17.5%±7.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
25.4%±5.3
U.S.: 22%
Westminster and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.7%±11.4
U.S.: 17.2%
19.1%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
23.2%±8.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.6%±7.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Windham and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
45.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
29.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.2%±3.5
U.S.: 6.4%
3.6%±1.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
0.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.2%±0.9
U.S.: 6.4%
Olean and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$81,000±$22k
about the U.S. average
$51,261±$7kLowest
37% below U.S.
$94,500±$12kHighest
17% above U.S.
$63,889±$7k
21% below U.S.
Windham and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$313,600±$39k
6% below U.S.
$86,100±$6kLowest
74% below U.S.
$353,900±$20kHighest
6% above U.S.
$267,500±$21k
20% below U.S.
Windham and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$749±$315Lowest
47% below U.S.
$794±$52
44% below U.S.
—
$875±$154Highest
38% below U.S.
Halifax and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,480
44% above U.S.
$3,130Lowest
about the U.S. average
$5,951Highest
91% above U.S.
$4,991
60% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
6.1%±43.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52%±9.1
U.S.: 51.1%
41.2%±94
U.S.: 51.1%
57.1%±73.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Halifax and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
26.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
9.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
6%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
55.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
13% above U.S.
14 minLowest
45% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
33 minHighest
23% above U.S.
Work from home
23.1%±15.9
U.S.: 15.1%
8.4%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.5%±5.6
U.S.: 15.1%
29.9%±11.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Halifax and Westminster 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 #53 of 70 in VT #337 of 484 in NY — —
School district — OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT — Halifax School District
High school in town — OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL — None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.2
— —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.