Compare towns
Danby vs Moriah vs Olean vs Wells
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danby has the most expensive homes ($272k median).
Moriah has the oldest population (median age 56.7).
Olean has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
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 | Danby | Moriah | Olean | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,133Lowest |
4,483 |
13,738Highest |
1,148 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.6±4.8 35% above U.S. |
56.7±3Highest 46% above U.S. |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
50.7±5.2 30% above U.S. |
| Moriah and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±6.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Moriah and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Olean and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,321±$13kHighest 4% below U.S. |
$63,113±$6k 22% below U.S. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$75,417±$11k 7% below U.S. |
| Danby and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$41kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$138,200±$9k 58% below U.S. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$243,000±$42k 27% below U.S. |
| Danby and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$166Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$832±$165 41% below U.S. |
$794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$1,313±$282Highest 7% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,543Highest 46% above U.S. |
$2,644Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$3,130 about the U.S. average |
$3,308 6% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.4%±34.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±25.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.5%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wells and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1951 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
48 minHighest 80% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Danby and Wells 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 | — | #380 of 484 in NY | #337 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | MORIAH CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| High school in town | None in town | MORIAH JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.6Lowest |
12.2Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.