Compare towns
Chenango vs Gerry vs Olean vs Olean
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chenango has the most people working from home (13.8%).
Olean has the oldest population (median age 53.8).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k 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 | Chenango | Gerry | Olean | Olean |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,787 |
1,668 |
1,664Lowest |
13,738Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-6.5%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-4.2% NY: +4.2% |
-3.6% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 41±2.8 3% above NY |
52.4±5.7 32% above NY |
53.8±5.5Highest 35% above NY |
39±2.6Lowest about the NY average |
| Olean and Gerry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±3 NY: 20.5% |
20.9%±3.9 NY: 20.5% |
15.6%±4.5Lowest NY: 20.5% |
23.5%±2.9Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Olean and Chenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.6 NY: 17.9% |
29.9%±3.1Highest NY: 17.9% |
25.2%±5.1 NY: 17.9% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Gerry and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.2%Highest NY: 40.2% |
23.4% NY: 40.2% |
23.3%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
29.9% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2Highest NY: 7% |
3.4%±2.3 NY: 7% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest NY: 7% |
3.6%±1.1 NY: 7% |
| Chenango and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,646±$9kHighest about the NY average |
$68,667±$12k 20% below NY |
$74,583±$20k 13% below NY |
$51,261±$7kLowest 40% below NY |
| Chenango and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $172,000±$9kHighest 59% below NY |
$119,200±$10k 72% below NY |
$158,600±$17k 63% below NY |
$86,100±$6kLowest 80% below NY |
| Chenango and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,038±$97 36% below NY |
$1,138±$260Highest 30% below NY |
$666±$334Lowest 59% below NY |
$794±$52 51% below NY |
| Gerry and Chenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,700 44% below NY |
$2,606Lowest 60% below NY |
$4,027Highest 39% below NY |
$3,130 52% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±8.7Lowest NY: 52.1% |
61.2%±16.1Highest NY: 52.1% |
57.1%±25.5 NY: 52.1% |
52%±9.1 NY: 52.1% |
| Gerry and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.1% NY: 14% |
9%Lowest NY: 14% |
16.3% NY: 14% |
26.7%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.3%Highest NY: 54.3% |
75.2% NY: 54.3% |
77.9% NY: 54.3% |
55.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 5 yrs newer than NY |
1967Highest 8 yrs newer than NY |
1962 3 yrs newer than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 27% below NY |
27 minHighest 17% below NY |
19 min 43% below NY |
14 minLowest 56% below NY |
| Work from home | 13.8%±3.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
6.2%±4.2 NY: 14.9% |
5.8%±4.7Lowest NY: 14.9% |
8.4%±2.6 NY: 14.9% |
| Chenango and Olean 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 | #233 of 484 in NY | — | #337 of 484 in NY | #337 of 484 in NY |
| School district | CHENANGO FORKS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | CASSADAGA VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | CHENANGO FORKS HIGH SCHOOL | CASSADAGA VALLEY MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL | — | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
8.7Lowest |
— | 12.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.