Compare towns
Brasher vs Olean vs Olean vs Lawrence
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brasher has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).
Olean has the most expensive homes ($159k median).
Olean has the most people working from home (8.4%).
Lawrence has the most homeowners (88.6%).
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 | Brasher | Olean | Olean | Lawrence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,592 |
1,664 |
13,738Highest |
1,623Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.2% NY: +4.2% |
-3.6% NY: +4.2% |
-6.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 46.6±9 17% above NY |
53.8±5.5Highest 35% above NY |
39±2.6 about the NY average |
35.5±8.2Lowest 11% below NY |
| Olean and Brasher are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±6.2 NY: 20.5% |
15.6%±4.5Lowest NY: 20.5% |
23.5%±2.9 NY: 20.5% |
26.1%±4.5Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Lawrence and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.5%±5 NY: 17.9% |
25.2%±5.1Highest NY: 17.9% |
19.1%±2.5 NY: 17.9% |
17.9%±3.2Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Olean and Brasher are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 10.6%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
23.3% NY: 40.2% |
29.9%Highest NY: 40.2% |
20.9% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 NY: 7% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest NY: 7% |
3.6%±1.1 NY: 7% |
4.5%±2.3Highest NY: 7% |
| Lawrence and Brasher are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,911±$14k 37% below NY |
$74,583±$20kHighest 13% below NY |
$51,261±$7kLowest 40% below NY |
$64,318±$11k 25% below NY |
| Olean and Lawrence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $124,300±$24k 71% below NY |
$158,600±$17kHighest 63% below NY |
$86,100±$6kLowest 80% below NY |
$94,700±$14k 78% below NY |
| Olean and Brasher are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $730±$195 55% below NY |
$666±$334Lowest 59% below NY |
$794±$52Highest 51% below NY |
$695±$429 57% below NY |
| Olean and Brasher are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,500 62% below NY |
$4,027Highest 39% below NY |
$3,130 52% below NY |
$2,369Lowest 64% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.3%±27.2Highest NY: 52.1% |
57.1%±25.5 NY: 52.1% |
52%±9.1Lowest NY: 52.1% |
64.4%±32 NY: 52.1% |
| Brasher and Lawrence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 22.4% NY: 14% |
16.3% NY: 14% |
26.7%Highest NY: 14% |
12.5%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.4% NY: 54.3% |
77.9% NY: 54.3% |
55.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
88.6%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 19 yrs newer than NY |
1962 3 yrs newer than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1975 16 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 37% below NY |
19 min 43% below NY |
14 minLowest 56% below NY |
26 minHighest 20% below NY |
| Work from home | 1.9%±1.8Lowest NY: 14.9% |
5.8%±4.7 NY: 14.9% |
8.4%±2.6Highest NY: 14.9% |
6.5%±4.3 NY: 14.9% |
| Olean and Lawrence 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 | #300 of 484 in NY | #337 of 484 in NY | #337 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | BRASHER FALLS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | BRASHER FALLS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | None in town | — | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | SAINT LAWRENCE HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.2Highest |
10.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.