Compare towns
Chenango vs Olean vs Oswego 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 oldest population (median age 41).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Oswego has the most renters (49.8% rent).
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 | Olean | Oswego | Williamson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,787 |
13,738 |
17,033Highest |
6,823Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% NY: +4.2% |
-3.6% NY: +4.2% |
-6.7%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-1.8%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 41±2.8Highest 3% above NY |
39±2.6 about the NY average |
35.7±1.6Lowest 10% below NY |
40.9±4.2 about the NY average |
| Chenango and Williamson 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% |
23.5%±2.9Highest NY: 20.5% |
21.9%±2.6 NY: 20.5% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest 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%±2.5 NY: 17.9% |
18.3%±2.1Lowest NY: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.5 NY: 17.9% |
| Chenango and Williamson 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% |
26.1%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
34.2% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2 NY: 7% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest NY: 7% |
10.1%±2Highest NY: 7% |
4.5%±2 NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,646±$9k about the NY average |
$51,261±$7kLowest 40% below NY |
$53,172±$4k 38% 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 |
$86,100±$6kLowest 80% below NY |
$120,600±$7k 72% 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 |
$794±$52 51% below NY |
$1,109±$72Highest 32% below NY |
$659±$304Lowest 59% below NY |
| Oswego 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 |
$3,130Lowest 52% below NY |
$3,362 49% below NY |
$5,172Highest 21% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±8.7 NY: 52.1% |
52%±9.1 NY: 52.1% |
60.4%±7.4Highest NY: 52.1% |
25.1%±12.5Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Oswego 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% |
26.7%Highest NY: 14% |
20.6% NY: 14% |
9%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.3% NY: 54.3% |
55.1% NY: 54.3% |
50.2%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
86.9%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 5 yrs newer than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1965Highest 6 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 27% below NY |
14 minLowest 56% below NY |
19 min 43% below NY |
25 minHighest 25% below NY |
| Work from home | 13.8%±3.2 NY: 14.9% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
8.6%±2.9 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 | #285 of 484 in NY | #221 of 484 in NY |
| School district | CHENANGO FORKS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | OSWEGO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | WILLIAMSON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | CHENANGO FORKS HIGH SCHOOL | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | OSWEGO HIGH SCHOOL | WILLIAMSON SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
12.2 |
12.5Highest |
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.