Compare towns
Danby vs Olean vs Mendon
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 youngest population (median age 52.6).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($159k median).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
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 | Olean | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,133 |
1,664Highest |
1,113Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.6±4.8Lowest 35% above U.S. |
53.8±5.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
53.4±10.5 37% above U.S. |
| Olean and Mendon 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% |
15.6%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Olean and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Mendon and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mendon and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,321±$13k 4% below U.S. |
$74,583±$20kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$100,524±$23kHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Mendon and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$41k 18% below U.S. |
$158,600±$17kLowest 52% below U.S. |
$357,000±$44kHighest 7% above U.S. |
| Mendon and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$166 44% below U.S. |
$666±$334Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$1,230±$651Highest 13% below U.S. |
| Mendon and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,543 46% above U.S. |
$4,027Lowest 29% above U.S. |
$5,342Highest 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.4%±34.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±25.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
19 min 30% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mendon and Danby 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 | — | #337 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.