Compare towns

Brighton vs Hadley vs Olean 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

Brighton has the most renters (48.9% rent).
Hadley has the most people working from home (24.2%).
Olean has the highest household income ($75k).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k 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.

MeasureBrightonHadleyOleanOlean
People
Population
1,167Lowest
2,074
1,664
13,738Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.2±11.6
16% above U.S.
54.1±3Highest
39% above U.S.
53.8±5.5
38% above U.S.
39±2.6Lowest
about the U.S. average
Hadley and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.3%±5.7
U.S.: 22%
14.4%±3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
15.6%±4.5
U.S.: 22%
23.5%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
Olean and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
27.2%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
26.1%±4.6
U.S.: 17.2%
25.2%±5.1
U.S.: 17.2%
19.1%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Brighton and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
25.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
25%
U.S.: 35.7%
23.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
29.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.6%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.1%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.5%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
3.6%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
Brighton and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$47,375±$21kLowest
41% below U.S.
$73,750±$32k
9% below U.S.
$74,583±$20kHighest
8% below U.S.
$51,261±$7k
37% below U.S.
Olean and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$163,900±$39k
51% below U.S.
$194,200±$30kHighest
42% below U.S.
$158,600±$17k
52% below U.S.
$86,100±$6kLowest
74% below U.S.
Hadley and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$775±$33
45% below U.S.
$900±$293Highest
36% below U.S.
$666±$334Lowest
53% below U.S.
$794±$52
44% below U.S.
Hadley and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,360
8% above U.S.
$2,375Lowest
24% below U.S.
$4,027Highest
29% above U.S.
$3,130
about the U.S. average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
55%±17
U.S.: 51.1%
44.3%±17Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
57.1%±25.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
52%±9.1
U.S.: 51.1%
Olean and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
22%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
16.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
26.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
51.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
83.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
77.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
55.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1967
13 yrs older than U.S.
1972Highest
8 yrs older than U.S.
1962
18 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
25% above U.S.
31 min
19% above U.S.
19 min
30% below U.S.
14 minLowest
45% below U.S.
Work from home
12.4%±8.1
U.S.: 15.1%
24.2%±23.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
5.8%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
8.4%±2.6
U.S.: 15.1%
Hadley and Brighton 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 #337 of 484 in NY
School district Brighton 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 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.