Compare towns
Wright vs Olean vs Middlesex vs Brant
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Olean has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Brant has the most renters (24.1% rent).
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 | Wright | Olean | Middlesex | Brant |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,739 |
1,664Lowest |
1,943 |
2,224Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
53.8±5.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
49.7±2.5 28% above U.S. |
| Olean and Wright are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Brant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Olean and Wright are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,250±$13k 7% above U.S. |
$74,583±$20kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$89,531±$24k 11% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Brant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$36k 27% below U.S. |
$158,600±$17kLowest 52% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$201,100±$22k 40% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $953±$79 33% below U.S. |
$666±$334Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,089±$121 23% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Brant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,279 69% above U.S. |
$4,027 29% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$3,528Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.6%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±25.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.8%±13.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Olean and Brant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 5.9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.5%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Brant 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 | — |
| High school 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.