Compare towns
Brighton vs Olean vs Olean vs Newark
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).
Olean has the oldest population (median age 53.8).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Newark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.5%).
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 | Brighton | Olean | Olean | Newark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,167 |
1,664 |
13,738Highest |
727Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.2±11.6 16% above U.S. |
53.8±5.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.4±6 6% above U.S. |
| Olean and Brighton 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% |
15.6%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
22%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Olean and Newark 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% |
25.2%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brighton and Olean 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% |
23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
41%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest 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. |
$74,583±$20kHighest 8% below U.S. |
$51,261±$7k 37% below U.S. |
$72,929±$7k 10% below U.S. |
| Olean and Newark 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. |
$158,600±$17k 52% below U.S. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$229,900±$23kHighest 31% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $775±$33 45% below U.S. |
$666±$334Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$794±$52 44% below U.S. |
$1,708±$97Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,360 8% above U.S. |
$4,027Highest 29% above U.S. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,771 21% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±25.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
7.1%±100Lowest 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% |
16.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
22.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
19 min 30% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.4%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±8.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newark 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 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | None in town |
| 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.