Compare towns
Chenango vs Olean vs Williamson vs Maine
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).
Olean has the most renters (22.1% rent).
Williamson has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.8%).
Maine has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
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 | Olean | Williamson | Maine |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,787Highest |
1,664Lowest |
6,823 |
5,089 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% NY: +4.2% |
-4.2%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-1.8%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-3.9% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 41±2.8 3% above NY |
53.8±5.5 35% above NY |
40.9±4.2Lowest about the NY average |
57.1±10Highest 43% above NY |
| Maine and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±3Highest NY: 20.5% |
15.6%±4.5 NY: 20.5% |
19.6%±3.3 NY: 20.5% |
15.2%±4.6Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Chenango and Williamson 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% |
25.2%±5.1 NY: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.5Lowest NY: 17.9% |
33.4%±8.7Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Maine 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% |
23.3%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
34.2% NY: 40.2% |
28% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2Highest NY: 7% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest NY: 7% |
4.5%±2 NY: 7% |
2.8%±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 |
$74,583±$20k 13% below NY |
$90,515±$14kHighest 5% above NY |
$69,115±$19kLowest 20% below 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 |
$158,600±$17k 63% below NY |
$192,700±$18kHighest 55% below NY |
$156,100±$44kLowest 63% 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±$97Highest 36% below NY |
$666±$334 59% below NY |
$659±$304Lowest 59% below NY |
$939±$49 42% below NY |
| Chenango and Maine 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 |
$4,027 39% below NY |
$5,172Highest 21% below NY |
$3,828 42% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±8.7 NY: 52.1% |
57.1%±25.5Highest NY: 52.1% |
25.1%±12.5Lowest NY: 52.1% |
26.1%±14.4 NY: 52.1% |
| Olean and Chenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.1% NY: 14% |
16.3%Highest NY: 14% |
9%Lowest NY: 14% |
11.6% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.3% NY: 54.3% |
77.9%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
86.9%Highest NY: 54.3% |
85.3% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 5 yrs newer than NY |
1962Lowest 3 yrs newer than NY |
1965Highest 6 yrs newer than NY |
1964 5 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 27% below NY |
19 minLowest 43% below NY |
25 minHighest 25% below NY |
20 min 40% below NY |
| Work from home | 13.8%±3.2 NY: 14.9% |
5.8%±4.7Lowest NY: 14.9% |
16.2%±6.5Highest NY: 14.9% |
10.6%±4.7 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 | #369 of 484 in NY |
| School district | CHENANGO FORKS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | WILLIAMSON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | MAINE-ENDWELL CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | CHENANGO FORKS HIGH SCHOOL | — | WILLIAMSON SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | None in town |
| 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.