Compare towns
Day vs Olean vs Wells vs Dunkirk
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Day has the oldest population (median age 61.4).
Olean has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).
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 | Day | Olean | Wells | Dunkirk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 843 |
13,738Highest |
671Lowest |
1,169 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.3% NY: +4.2% |
-3.6% NY: +4.2% |
+1.3%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-5.9%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 61.4±2.4Highest 54% above NY |
39±2.6Lowest about the NY average |
59.8±3.5 50% above NY |
58.9±8.8 48% above NY |
| Day and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 7.8%±3.6Lowest NY: 20.5% |
23.5%±2.9Highest NY: 20.5% |
14.8%±4.5 NY: 20.5% |
10%±3.9 NY: 20.5% |
| Age 65+ | 37.6%±5.8 NY: 17.9% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest NY: 17.9% |
28.9%±7.6 NY: 17.9% |
42.4%±7Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Dunkirk and Day are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.5% NY: 40.2% |
29.9%Highest NY: 40.2% |
19.6%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
20.4% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8 NY: 7% |
3.6%±1.1Highest NY: 7% |
2.5%±1.9 NY: 7% |
1.4%±1Lowest NY: 7% |
| Olean and Day are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $57,727±$16k 33% below NY |
$51,261±$7kLowest 40% below NY |
$74,286±$31kHighest 14% below NY |
$67,045±$18k 22% below NY |
| Wells and Dunkirk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,400±$49k 47% below NY |
$86,100±$6kLowest 80% below NY |
$268,600±$45kHighest 37% below NY |
$167,100±$40k 61% below NY |
| Wells and Day are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $794±$52Lowest 51% below NY |
— | $956±$553Highest 41% below NY |
| Dunkirk and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,765 58% below NY |
$3,130Highest 52% below NY |
$2,588Lowest 61% below NY |
$2,730 59% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest NY: 52.1% |
52%±9.1 NY: 52.1% |
30%±100Lowest NY: 52.1% |
37.1%±26.8 NY: 52.1% |
| Day and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.2% NY: 14% |
26.7%Highest NY: 14% |
4.6%Lowest NY: 14% |
8.9% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.3% NY: 54.3% |
55.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
91.7%Highest NY: 54.3% |
84% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 13 yrs newer than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1972Highest 13 yrs newer than NY |
1952 7 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 min 16% above NY |
14 minLowest 56% below NY |
43 minHighest 32% above NY |
14 minLowest 56% below NY |
| Work from home | 7.4%±4.2 NY: 14.9% |
8.4%±2.6Highest NY: 14.9% |
3.6%±2.5 NY: 14.9% |
2.4%±2.5Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Olean and Day 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 | — | #465 of 484 in NY |
| School district | — | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | — |
| High school in town | — | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.