Compare towns
Dickinson vs Olean vs Greene vs Chenango
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).
Greene has the most expensive homes ($177k median).
Chenango has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.6%).
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 | Dickinson | Olean | Greene | Chenango |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,001Lowest |
13,738Highest |
5,161 |
10,787 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% NY: +4.2% |
-3.6% NY: +4.2% |
-5.5%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-2.6%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 42.7±3.3Highest 7% above NY |
39±2.6Lowest about the NY average |
40±3.5 about the NY average |
41±2.8 3% above NY |
| Dickinson and Chenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.6%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
23.5%±2.9 NY: 20.5% |
23.7%±3.6Highest NY: 20.5% |
22.7%±3 NY: 20.5% |
| Greene and Olean 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% |
19.7%±2.9 NY: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.6Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Chenango 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% NY: 40.2% |
28.3%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
35.2%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest NY: 7% |
3.6%±1.1 NY: 7% |
2.6%±1Lowest NY: 7% |
4.8%±2 NY: 7% |
| Dickinson and Chenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,864±$14k 9% below NY |
$51,261±$7kLowest 40% below NY |
$73,481±$10k 15% below NY |
$86,646±$9kHighest about the NY average |
| Chenango 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 |
$176,800±$13kHighest 58% below NY |
$172,000±$9k 59% below NY |
| Greene and Chenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $941±$68 42% below NY |
$794±$52Lowest 51% below NY |
$810±$61 50% below NY |
$1,038±$97Highest 36% below NY |
| Chenango and Dickinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,523 46% below NY |
$3,130Lowest 52% below NY |
$4,091Highest 38% below NY |
$3,700 44% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.8%±13.8 NY: 52.1% |
52%±9.1Highest NY: 52.1% |
33.2%±9.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
41.7%±8.7 NY: 52.1% |
| Olean and Chenango 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% |
10.6% NY: 14% |
9.1% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6% NY: 54.3% |
55.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
73.2% NY: 54.3% |
85.3%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952 7 yrs older than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1968Highest 9 yrs newer than NY |
1964 5 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 48% below NY |
14 minLowest 56% below NY |
23 min 29% below NY |
24 minHighest 27% below NY |
| Work from home | 14.4%±5.9Highest NY: 14.9% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
10.7%±3.2 NY: 14.9% |
13.8%±3.2 NY: 14.9% |
| Dickinson 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 | — | #337 of 484 in NY | #319 of 484 in NY | #233 of 484 in NY |
| School district | CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | GREENE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | CHENANGO FORKS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | None in town | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | GREENE HIGH SCHOOL | CHENANGO FORKS HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2 |
12.9Highest |
11.1Lowest |
| 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.