Compare towns
Brookline vs Massena 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
Brookline has the most expensive homes ($291k median).
Olean has the shortest commute (14 min average).
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 | Brookline | Massena | Olean |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 531Lowest |
10,238 |
13,738Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7Highest 16% above U.S. |
42.6±4.7 10% above U.S. |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Brookline and Massena are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Olean and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Massena and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Olean and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16kHighest about the U.S. average |
$51,458±$7k 36% below U.S. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $290,700±$37kHighest 13% below U.S. |
$94,400±$15k 72% below U.S. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S. |
$722±$44Lowest 49% below U.S. |
$794±$52 44% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000Highest 60% above U.S. |
$3,218 3% above U.S. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.8%±11.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Massena and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
24.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1954 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
18 min 32% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.2%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #337 of 484 in NY |
| School district | — | — | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school 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 |
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.