Compare towns
Dix vs Hector vs Olean
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hector has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.9%).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k 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 | Dix | Hector | Olean |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,660Lowest |
4,850 |
13,738Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8% NY: +4.2% |
-0.9%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-3.6%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 50.1±2.8 26% above NY |
51.1±4Highest 28% above NY |
39±2.6Lowest about the NY average |
| Hector and Dix are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.7%±3.4Lowest NY: 20.5% |
18%±3.8 NY: 20.5% |
23.5%±2.9Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Olean and Hector are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.9%±5Highest NY: 17.9% |
25%±5 NY: 17.9% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Dix and Hector are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17.4%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
36.9%Highest NY: 40.2% |
29.9% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.9Lowest NY: 7% |
3.2%±1.6 NY: 7% |
3.6%±1.1Highest NY: 7% |
| Olean and Hector are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $53,668±$8k 38% below NY |
$79,904±$19kHighest 7% below NY |
$51,261±$7kLowest 40% below NY |
| Hector and Dix are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $165,000±$14k 61% below NY |
$218,700±$32kHighest 48% below NY |
$86,100±$6kLowest 80% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $718±$172Lowest 56% below NY |
$1,083±$525Highest 33% below NY |
$794±$52 51% below NY |
| Hector and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,141 52% below NY |
$4,072Highest 38% below NY |
$3,130Lowest 52% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±13.6Lowest NY: 52.1% |
81.7%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
52%±9.1 NY: 52.1% |
| Hector and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.2%Lowest NY: 14% |
15.6% NY: 14% |
26.7%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.1% NY: 54.3% |
91.4%Highest NY: 54.3% |
55.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952 7 yrs older than NY |
1979Highest 20 yrs newer than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 39% below NY |
27 minHighest 18% below NY |
14 minLowest 56% below NY |
| Work from home | 4.3%±2.3Lowest NY: 14.9% |
13.6%±4.8Highest NY: 14.9% |
8.4%±2.6 NY: 14.9% |
| Hector 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 | #391 of 484 in NY | — | #337 of 484 in NY |
| School district | WATKINS GLEN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | WATKINS GLEN CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL | — | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Lowest |
— | 12.2Highest |
| 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.