Compare towns
Binghamton vs Olean vs Schenectady
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Binghamton has the most renters (56% rent).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Schenectady has the most expensive homes ($169k 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.
| Measure | Binghamton | Olean | Schenectady |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 47,151 |
13,738Lowest |
68,847Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3% NY: +4.2% |
-3.6%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+1.4%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 35.9±1.6Lowest 10% below NY |
39±2.6Highest about the NY average |
36.1±1 9% below NY |
| Olean and Schenectady 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% |
19.9%±1.2 NY: 20.5% |
| Olean and Schenectady are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18%±1.3 NY: 17.9% |
19.1%±2.5Highest NY: 17.9% |
15.1%±1.1Lowest 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% NY: 40.2% |
25.4%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.3%±2Highest NY: 7% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest NY: 7% |
9.8%±1 NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $45,578±$3kLowest 47% below NY |
$51,261±$7k 40% below NY |
$58,399±$3kHighest 32% below NY |
| Schenectady and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $124,800±$7k 71% below NY |
$86,100±$6kLowest 80% below NY |
$168,800±$5kHighest 60% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $870±$38 46% below NY |
$794±$52Lowest 51% below NY |
$1,145±$33Highest 29% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,622 45% below NY |
$3,130Lowest 52% below NY |
$4,874Highest 26% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.4%±3.9Lowest NY: 52.1% |
52%±9.1 NY: 52.1% |
58.5%±4.5Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Schenectady and Olean 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% NY: 14% |
23.8%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 44%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
55.1%Highest NY: 54.3% |
45.6% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Highest 14 yrs older than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1941 18 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 42% below NY |
14 minLowest 56% below NY |
22 minHighest 33% below NY |
| Work from home | 9.3%±2 NY: 14.9% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
10.9%±1.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Schenectady and Binghamton 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 | #400 of 484 in NY |
| School district | BINGHAMTON CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | SCHENECTADY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | BINGHAMTON HIGH SCHOOL | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | SCHENECTADY HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
12.2 |
13.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.