Compare towns
Albany vs Olean vs Groton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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).
Groton has the highest household income ($77k).
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 | Albany | Olean | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 934Lowest |
13,738Highest |
967 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±6.2 9% above U.S. |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.7±5.8Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Groton and Albany 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%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
13.3%±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%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Groton and Olean 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% |
38.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±4.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±5.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Groton and Albany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $59,167±$14k 27% below U.S. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$77,250±$14kHighest 4% below U.S. |
| Groton and Albany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $231,500±$12k 30% below U.S. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$243,000±$70kHighest 27% below U.S. |
| Groton and Albany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,114±$23Highest 21% below U.S. |
$794±$52 44% below U.S. |
$288±$151Lowest 80% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,093Highest 31% above U.S. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,659 17% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44%±65.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
12.5%±72.9Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±11.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Albany and Groton 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 | 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.