Compare towns
Worcester vs Olean vs Elmore vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($159k median).
Elmore has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($318k 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 | Worcester | Olean | Elmore | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831Lowest |
1,664Highest |
964 |
1,314 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
53.8±5.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
45±3.5Lowest 16% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5 24% above U.S. |
| Olean and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±9.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Elmore and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.6%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Olean and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,833±$18k 9% below U.S. |
$74,583±$20k 8% below U.S. |
$98,750±$24kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Elmore and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27k 19% below U.S. |
$158,600±$17kLowest 52% below U.S. |
$315,800±$47k 5% below U.S. |
$318,400±$34kHighest 4% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Elmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136 28% below U.S. |
$666±$334Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$1,225±$263Highest 13% below U.S. |
$1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
| Elmore and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421 42% above U.S. |
$4,027Lowest 29% above U.S. |
$5,066Highest 62% above U.S. |
$4,806 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±25.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±65.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester and Plainfield 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | — |
| 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.