Compare towns
Westminster vs Olean vs Walpole vs Athens
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 people working from home (27%).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Walpole has the most expensive homes ($320k median).
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 | Westminster | Olean | Walpole | Athens |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,999 |
13,738Highest |
3,690 |
431Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S. |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
46.5±10.4 20% above U.S. |
47.3±6.5 22% above U.S. |
| Westminster and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Olean and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Athens and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,491±$4k 11% below U.S. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$82,617±$16kHighest about the U.S. average |
$68,438±$30k 15% below U.S. |
| Walpole and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,800±$35k 18% below U.S. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$319,800±$48kHighest 4% below U.S. |
$240,400±$32k 28% below U.S. |
| Walpole and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $916±$126 35% below U.S. |
$794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$1,165±$150Highest 18% below U.S. |
$1,125±$537 20% below U.S. |
| Walpole and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,063 30% above U.S. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$6,078Highest 95% above U.S. |
$5,438 74% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.5%±39Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Olean and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±7.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Westminster and Athens 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 | #27 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Fall Mountain Regional School District | — |
| High school in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6Lowest |
12.2Highest |
— | — |
| 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.