Compare towns
Catharine vs Olean vs Hector vs Veteran
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Hector has the most expensive homes ($219k median).
Veteran has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).
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 | Catharine | Olean | Hector | Veteran |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,370Lowest |
13,738Highest |
4,850 |
3,269 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-3.6% NY: +4.2% |
-0.9% NY: +4.2% |
+1.3%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 47.4±6.5 19% above NY |
39±2.6 about the NY average |
51.1±4Highest 28% above NY |
38±6.6Lowest 5% below NY |
| Hector and Catharine are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.1%±3.8 NY: 20.5% |
23.5%±2.9 NY: 20.5% |
18%±3.8Lowest NY: 20.5% |
25.8%±5.2Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Veteran and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±2.3 NY: 17.9% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest NY: 17.9% |
25%±5Highest NY: 17.9% |
23.8%±6.9 NY: 17.9% |
| Hector and Veteran are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18.9%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
29.9% NY: 40.2% |
36.9%Highest NY: 40.2% |
36.9%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.7 NY: 7% |
3.6%±1.1Highest NY: 7% |
3.2%±1.6 NY: 7% |
1.4%±1.5Lowest NY: 7% |
| Olean and Catharine are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $58,500±$15k 32% below NY |
$51,261±$7kLowest 40% below NY |
$79,904±$19kHighest 7% below NY |
$65,341±$19k 24% below NY |
| Hector and Veteran are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $144,900±$11k 66% below NY |
$86,100±$6kLowest 80% below NY |
$218,700±$32kHighest 48% below NY |
$170,400±$25k 60% below NY |
| Hector and Veteran are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $854±$117 47% below NY |
$794±$52 51% below NY |
$1,083±$525Highest 33% below NY |
$787±$54Lowest 51% below NY |
| Hector and Catharine are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,675Lowest 59% below NY |
$3,130 52% below NY |
$4,072Highest 38% below NY |
$3,176 52% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.5%±19.2 NY: 52.1% |
52%±9.1 NY: 52.1% |
81.7%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
28.9%±23.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Hector and Catharine are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 20.7% NY: 14% |
26.7%Highest NY: 14% |
15.6% NY: 14% |
7.5%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% NY: 54.3% |
55.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
91.4%Highest NY: 54.3% |
85.3% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 6 yrs older than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1979Highest 20 yrs newer than NY |
1966 7 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 23% below NY |
14 minLowest 56% below NY |
27 minHighest 18% below NY |
23 min 29% below NY |
| Work from home | 7.7%±4.7Lowest NY: 14.9% |
8.4%±2.6 NY: 14.9% |
13.6%±4.8Highest NY: 14.9% |
10.9%±7.3 NY: 14.9% |
| Hector and Veteran 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 | — | — |
| School district | ODESSA-MONTOUR CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | — |
| High school in town | ODESSA-MONTOUR JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
12.2Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 2 photos → | 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.