Compare towns
Westmore vs Olean vs Benson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Westmore has the most expensive homes ($330k median).
Olean has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
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 | Westmore | Olean | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 465Lowest |
1,664Highest |
784 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -4.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±11.5Lowest 32% above U.S. |
53.8±5.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
| Olean and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.5%±6.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Westmore and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westmore and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,188±$11kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$74,583±$20kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
| Westmore and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $330,000±$137kHighest about the U.S. average |
$158,600±$17kLowest 52% below U.S. |
$242,000±$26k 27% below U.S. |
| Westmore and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,050±$820 26% below U.S. |
$666±$334Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$1,113±$170Highest 21% below U.S. |
| Benson and Westmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,357Highest 72% above U.S. |
$4,027Lowest 29% above U.S. |
$4,125 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35%±94.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±25.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Olean and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Benson and Westmore 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 | — | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.