Compare towns
Whitingham vs Olean vs Halifax vs Pawlet
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Whitingham has the highest household income ($71k).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Pawlet has the oldest population (median age 47.9).
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.
| Measure | Whitingham | Olean | Halifax | Pawlet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,368 |
13,738Highest |
847Lowest |
1,480 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±7.1 19% above U.S. |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
40.6±13.1 4% above U.S. |
47.9±7.5Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Pawlet and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
25.4%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 31.1%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±7.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Whitingham and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pawlet and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,625±$11kHighest 13% below U.S. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$63,889±$7k 21% below U.S. |
$62,273±$14k 23% below U.S. |
| Whitingham and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $262,300±$30k 21% below U.S. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$267,500±$21kHighest 20% below U.S. |
$266,200±$44k 20% below U.S. |
| Halifax and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $673±$150Lowest 52% below U.S. |
$794±$52 44% below U.S. |
$875±$154 38% below U.S. |
$1,153±$215Highest 18% below U.S. |
| Pawlet and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,055Highest 62% above U.S. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,991 60% above U.S. |
$3,924 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.7%±47.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±73.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.6%±21.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whitingham and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.7%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.9%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.4%±8.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Halifax and Pawlet 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 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Halifax School District | Mettawee School District #84 |
| High school in town | Twin Valley Middle High School | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.8Lowest |
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.