Compare towns
Charlotte vs Olean vs Arkwright
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 shortest commute (14 min average).
Arkwright has the most expensive homes ($171k 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.
| Measure | Charlotte | Olean | Arkwright |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,501 |
13,738Highest |
859Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.7%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-3.6%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-5% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 45.8±4.3 15% above NY |
39±2.6Lowest about the NY average |
50.8±7.2Highest 28% above NY |
| Arkwright and Charlotte are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±3.4 NY: 20.5% |
23.5%±2.9Highest NY: 20.5% |
17.2%±5.4Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Olean and Charlotte are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.8%±5Highest NY: 17.9% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest NY: 17.9% |
23.2%±3.1 NY: 17.9% |
| Charlotte and Arkwright are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15.2%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
29.9%Highest NY: 40.2% |
26.4% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.8Lowest NY: 7% |
3.6%±1.1Highest NY: 7% |
3.3%±1.6 NY: 7% |
| Olean and Arkwright are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $61,082±$4k 29% below NY |
$51,261±$7kLowest 40% below NY |
$93,000±$26kHighest 8% above NY |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $107,500±$10k 75% below NY |
$86,100±$6kLowest 80% below NY |
$170,900±$30kHighest 60% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $648±$208Lowest 60% below NY |
$794±$52 51% below NY |
$875±$689Highest 46% below NY |
| Arkwright and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,049Lowest 54% below NY |
$3,130 52% below NY |
$3,760Highest 43% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.6%±25.6Lowest NY: 52.1% |
52%±9.1Highest NY: 52.1% |
50%±65.2 NY: 52.1% |
| Olean and Arkwright are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
26.7%Highest NY: 14% |
12.2% NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% NY: 54.3% |
55.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
89.3%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 7 yrs newer than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1979Highest 20 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 8% below NY |
14 minLowest 56% below NY |
27 min 18% below NY |
| Work from home | 1.9%±1.5Lowest NY: 14.9% |
8.4%±2.6Highest NY: 14.9% |
6%±3.7 NY: 14.9% |
| Olean and Arkwright 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 | — | 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 |
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.