Compare towns
Chenango vs Hamlin vs Olean vs Williamson
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 kids (22.7% under 18).
Hamlin has the most homeowners (89.3%).
Olean has the oldest population (median age 53.8).
Williamson has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.8%).
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 | Hamlin | Olean | Williamson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,787Highest |
8,652 |
1,664Lowest |
6,823 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% NY: +4.2% |
-3.5% NY: +4.2% |
-4.2%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-1.8%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 41±2.8 3% above NY |
41.9±3.7 5% above NY |
53.8±5.5Highest 35% above NY |
40.9±4.2Lowest about the NY average |
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±3Highest NY: 20.5% |
20.2%±3.5 NY: 20.5% |
15.6%±4.5Lowest NY: 20.5% |
19.6%±3.3 NY: 20.5% |
| Chenango and Hamlin 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% |
19.9%±3.2Lowest NY: 17.9% |
25.2%±5.1Highest NY: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.5 NY: 17.9% |
| Olean and Chenango 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% |
27.3% NY: 40.2% |
23.3%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
34.2% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2Highest NY: 7% |
3.9%±1.3 NY: 7% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest NY: 7% |
4.5%±2 NY: 7% |
| Chenango and Williamson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,646±$9k about the NY average |
$83,510±$9k about the NY average |
$74,583±$20kLowest 13% below NY |
$90,515±$14kHighest 5% above NY |
| Williamson and Chenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $172,000±$9k 59% below NY |
$166,200±$9k 61% below NY |
$158,600±$17kLowest 63% below NY |
$192,700±$18kHighest 55% below NY |
| Williamson and Chenango 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 |
$1,062±$137Highest 34% below NY |
$666±$334 59% below NY |
$659±$304Lowest 59% below NY |
| Hamlin and Chenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,700Lowest 44% below NY |
$4,343 34% below NY |
$4,027 39% below NY |
$5,172Highest 21% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±8.7 NY: 52.1% |
59.6%±13.6Highest NY: 52.1% |
57.1%±25.5 NY: 52.1% |
25.1%±12.5Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Hamlin 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% |
11.5% NY: 14% |
16.3%Highest NY: 14% |
9%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.3% NY: 54.3% |
89.3%Highest NY: 54.3% |
77.9%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
86.9% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 5 yrs newer than NY |
1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY |
1962Lowest 3 yrs newer than NY |
1965 6 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 27% below NY |
28 minHighest 15% below NY |
19 minLowest 43% below NY |
25 min 25% below NY |
| Work from home | 13.8%±3.2 NY: 14.9% |
12.2%±4.2 NY: 14.9% |
5.8%±4.7Lowest NY: 14.9% |
16.2%±6.5Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Williamson and Chenango 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 | #221 of 484 in NY |
| School district | CHENANGO FORKS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | — | WILLIAMSON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | CHENANGO FORKS HIGH SCHOOL | — | — | WILLIAMSON SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
— | — | 8.3Lowest |
| 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.