Compare towns
Worcester vs Olean vs Middletown Springs vs Calais
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).
Middletown Springs has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.6%).
Calais has the most expensive homes ($390k 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 | Middletown Springs | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831 |
13,738Highest |
747Lowest |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
49.2±5.1Highest 26% above U.S. |
42±8.6 8% above U.S. |
| Middletown Springs 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%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Middletown Springs and Olean 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% |
26.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middletown Springs and Calais 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% |
45.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest 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% |
3.2%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest 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. |
$82,000±$12k about the U.S. average |
$100,625±$27kHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Calais and Middletown Springs 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. |
$262,200±$24k 21% below U.S. |
$390,300±$36kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136 28% below U.S. |
$794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$1,208±$438 15% below U.S. |
$1,408±$392Highest about the U.S. average |
| Calais and Middletown Springs 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 |
$4,595 47% above U.S. |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Olean and Calais 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% |
6.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1 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 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | 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.