What stands out worked out from the figures below

Albany has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).

Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Albany	Olean
People
Population	934Lowest	13,738Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.4±6.2Highest 9% above U.S.	39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average
	Albany and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	31%±10.3Highest U.S.: 22%	23.5%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Albany and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.4%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	19.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Olean and Albany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Albany and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$59,167±$14kHighest 27% below U.S.	$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S.
	Albany and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$231,500±$12kHighest 30% below U.S.	$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,114±$23Highest 21% below U.S.	$794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,093Highest 31% above U.S.	$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44%±65.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	52%±9.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Olean and Albany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 5% above U.S.	14 minLowest 45% below U.S.
Work from home	20%±11.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Albany and Olean 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	Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District	OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	None in town	OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	12.2
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.