What stands out worked out from the figures below

Binghamton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).

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.

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

Measure	Binghamton	Olean
People
Population	47,151Highest	13,738Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.3%Highest NY: +4.2%	-3.6%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	35.9±1.6Lowest 10% below NY	39±2.6Highest about the NY average
	Olean and Binghamton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.9%±1.3Lowest NY: 20.5%	23.5%±2.9Highest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	18%±1.3Lowest NY: 17.9%	19.1%±2.5Highest NY: 17.9%
	Olean and Binghamton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.7%Highest NY: 40.2%	29.9%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.3%±2Highest NY: 7%	3.6%±1.1Lowest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$45,578±$3kLowest 47% below NY	$51,261±$7kHighest 40% below NY
	Olean and Binghamton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$124,800±$7kHighest 71% below NY	$86,100±$6kLowest 80% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$870±$38Highest 46% below NY	$794±$52Lowest 51% below NY
	Binghamton and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,622Highest 45% below NY	$3,130Lowest 52% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.4%±3.9Lowest NY: 52.1%	52%±9.1Highest NY: 52.1%
	Olean and Binghamton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	32.6%Highest NY: 14%	26.7%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	44%Lowest NY: 54.3%	55.1%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1945Highest 14 yrs older than NY	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minHighest 42% below NY	14 minLowest 56% below NY
Work from home	9.3%±2Highest NY: 14.9%	8.4%±2.6Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Binghamton 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	#426 of 484 in NY	#337 of 484 in NY
School district	BINGHAMTON CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT	OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	BINGHAMTON HIGH SCHOOL	OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	10.3Lowest	12.2Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

NY 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.