Compare towns

Chenango vs Olean vs Fenton

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 most affordable homes ($86k median).
Fenton has the most kids (25.4% under 18).

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.

MeasureChenangoOleanFenton
People
Population
10,787
13,738Highest
6,304Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.6%Highest
NY: +4.2%
-3.6%
NY: +4.2%
-3.7%Lowest
NY: +4.2%
Median age
41±2.8Highest
3% above NY
39±2.6
about the NY average
38.5±6.9Lowest
3% below NY
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%±2.9
NY: 20.5%
25.4%±5.1Highest
NY: 20.5%
Fenton and Olean 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%
20.9%±3.3
NY: 17.9%
Chenango and Fenton 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%
NY: 40.2%
21.9%Lowest
NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.8%±2Highest
NY: 7%
3.6%±1.1
NY: 7%
3.3%±1.9Lowest
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
$73,162±$13k
15% below NY
Chenango and Fenton 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
$86,100±$6kLowest
80% below NY
$143,900±$12k
66% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,038±$97Highest
36% below NY
$794±$52Lowest
51% below NY
$1,021±$312
37% below NY
Chenango and Fenton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,700Highest
44% below NY
$3,130
52% below NY
$2,952Lowest
55% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.7%±8.7
NY: 52.1%
52%±9.1Highest
NY: 52.1%
40%±16Lowest
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%
12.2%
NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.3%Highest
NY: 54.3%
55.1%Lowest
NY: 54.3%
80%
NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1964
5 yrs newer than NY
1938Lowest
21 yrs older than NY
1970Highest
11 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minHighest
27% below NY
14 minLowest
56% below NY
21 min
37% below NY
Work from home
13.8%±3.2Highest
NY: 14.9%
8.4%±2.6
NY: 14.9%
7.1%±3.3Lowest
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 #399 of 484 in NY
School district CHENANGO FORKS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town CHENANGO FORKS HIGH SCHOOL OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL CHENANGO VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1Lowest
12.2
13.2Highest
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.