Compare towns
Brookline vs Olean vs Olean vs Oswego
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Olean has the oldest population (median age 53.8).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Oswego has the most renters (49.8% rent).
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 | Olean | Olean | Oswego |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531Lowest |
1,664 |
13,738 |
17,033Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 16% above U.S. |
53.8±5.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
39±2.6 about the U.S. average |
35.7±1.6Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Olean and Oswego 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% |
25.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Olean 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% |
23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16kHighest about the U.S. average |
$74,583±$20k 8% below U.S. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$53,172±$4k 34% below U.S. |
| Brookline and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $290,700±$37kHighest 13% below U.S. |
$158,600±$17k 52% below U.S. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$120,600±$7k 64% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S. |
$666±$334Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$794±$52 44% below U.S. |
$1,109±$72 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000Highest 60% above U.S. |
$4,027 29% above U.S. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,362 8% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±25.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
60.4%±7.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Oswego 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% |
16.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
20.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
50.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
19 min 30% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
19 min 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #337 of 484 in NY | #337 of 484 in NY | #285 of 484 in NY |
| School district | — | — | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | OSWEGO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | — | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | OSWEGO HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.2Lowest |
12.5Highest |
| 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.