Compare towns
Dickinson vs Olean vs Clayton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dickinson has the most people working from home (14.4%).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Clayton has the most expensive homes ($227k median).
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 | Dickinson | Olean | Clayton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,001 |
13,738Highest |
4,693Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-3.6% NY: +4.2% |
-7.4%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 42.7±3.3Highest 7% above NY |
39±2.6Lowest about the NY average |
42.7±10.1Highest 7% above NY |
| Kids under 18 | 17.6%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
23.5%±2.9Highest NY: 20.5% |
20.6%±3.8 NY: 20.5% |
| Olean and Clayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±4 NY: 17.9% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest NY: 17.9% |
22.3%±3.4Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Clayton and Dickinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32% NY: 40.2% |
29.9%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
35.3%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest NY: 7% |
3.6%±1.1 NY: 7% |
2.8%±1.1Lowest NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,864±$14k 9% below NY |
$51,261±$7kLowest 40% below NY |
$90,357±$12kHighest 5% above NY |
| Clayton and Dickinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $147,400±$17k 65% below NY |
$86,100±$6kLowest 80% below NY |
$226,800±$20kHighest 46% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $941±$68 42% below NY |
$794±$52Lowest 51% below NY |
$1,125±$320Highest 31% below NY |
| Clayton and Dickinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,523Highest 46% below NY |
$3,130 52% below NY |
$3,048Lowest 54% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.8%±13.8Lowest NY: 52.1% |
52%±9.1Highest NY: 52.1% |
47.7%±19.3 NY: 52.1% |
| Olean and Clayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.5%Lowest NY: 14% |
26.7%Highest NY: 14% |
12.8% NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6%Highest NY: 54.3% |
55.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
71.7% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952 7 yrs older than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 48% below NY |
14 minLowest 56% below NY |
26 minHighest 21% below NY |
| Work from home | 14.4%±5.9Highest NY: 14.9% |
8.4%±2.6 NY: 14.9% |
5.5%±2.5Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Dickinson 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 | — | #337 of 484 in NY | #259 of 484 in NY |
| School district | CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | THOUSAND ISLANDS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | None in town | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2 |
— |
| 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.