What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chenango has the most expensive homes ($172k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Chenango	Olean
People
Population	10,787Lowest	13,738Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.6%Highest NY: +4.2%	-3.6%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	41±2.8Highest 3% above NY	39±2.6Lowest about the NY average
	Chenango and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.7%±3Lowest 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%±2.6Highest NY: 17.9%	19.1%±2.5Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Chenango 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%	29.9%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±2Highest NY: 7%	3.6%±1.1Lowest 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	$51,261±$7kLowest 40% below NY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$172,000±$9kHighest 59% below NY	$86,100±$6kLowest 80% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,038±$97Highest 36% below NY	$794±$52Lowest 51% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,700Highest 44% below NY	$3,130Lowest 52% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.7%±8.7Lowest NY: 52.1%	52%±9.1Highest 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%Lowest NY: 14%	26.7%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.3%Highest NY: 54.3%	55.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Highest 5 yrs newer than NY	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 27% below NY	14 minLowest 56% below NY
Work from home	13.8%±3.2Highest NY: 14.9%	8.4%±2.6Lowest 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
School district	CHENANGO FORKS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	CHENANGO FORKS HIGH SCHOOL	OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1Lowest	12.2Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.