Compare towns
Worcester vs Olean vs Calais 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 ($86k median).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Plainfield has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
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 | Calais | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831Lowest |
13,738Highest |
1,713 |
1,314 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
42±8.6 8% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Worcester 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% |
23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Olean and Calais 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% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Calais 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Worcester 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. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$100,625±$27kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$69,250±$31k 14% below U.S. |
| Calais and Worcester 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. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$390,300±$36kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136 28% below U.S. |
$794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$1,408±$392Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
| Calais 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. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
$4,806 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1955 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester and Calais 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 | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school in town | None 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.