Compare towns
Benson vs Johnson City vs Olean
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Benson has the most expensive homes ($242k median).
Johnson City has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
Olean has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
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 | Benson | Johnson City | Olean |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784Lowest |
14,940Highest |
13,738 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 33% above U.S. |
40.7±3.4 5% above U.S. |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Benson and Johnson City are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.1%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Olean and Johnson City are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Benson and Johnson City are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
9%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Johnson City and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8kHighest about the U.S. average |
$56,283±$4k 30% below U.S. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26kHighest 27% below U.S. |
$117,100±$4k 65% below U.S. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170Highest 21% below U.S. |
$1,031±$66 27% below U.S. |
$794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S. |
| Benson and Johnson City are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125Highest 32% above U.S. |
$3,982 28% above U.S. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.8%±10.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Johnson City and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
19.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1949 31 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
17 min 38% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #337 of 484 in NY |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | 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.