Compare towns
Dunkirk vs Herkimer vs Olean 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
Dunkirk has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.4%).
Herkimer has the most people working from home (8.4%).
Olean has the highest household income ($75k).
Dunkirk has the shortest commute (14 min average).
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 | Dunkirk | Herkimer | Olean | Dunkirk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,549Highest |
7,566 |
1,664 |
1,169Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-6.6%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-4.2% NY: +4.2% |
-5.9% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 43.7±3.1Lowest 10% above NY |
45.4±3.4 14% above NY |
53.8±5.5 35% above NY |
58.9±8.8Highest 48% above NY |
| Dunkirk and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±2.8Highest NY: 20.5% |
14.6%±3.8 NY: 20.5% |
15.6%±4.5 NY: 20.5% |
10%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Dunkirk and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±2.3Lowest NY: 17.9% |
20.7%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
25.2%±5.1 NY: 17.9% |
42.4%±7Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.4% NY: 40.2% |
15.9%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
23.3%Highest NY: 40.2% |
20.4% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.5 NY: 7% |
8.4%±2.2Highest NY: 7% |
2.5%±1.5 NY: 7% |
1.4%±1Lowest NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,299±$6k 38% below NY |
$48,529±$16kLowest 44% below NY |
$74,583±$20kHighest 13% below NY |
$67,045±$18k 22% below NY |
| Olean and Dunkirk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $94,700±$6kLowest 78% below NY |
$133,200±$29k 69% below NY |
$158,600±$17k 63% below NY |
$167,100±$40kHighest 61% below NY |
| Dunkirk and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $866±$81 47% below NY |
$821±$82 49% below NY |
$666±$334Lowest 59% below NY |
$956±$553Highest 41% below NY |
| Dunkirk and Dunkirk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,352Lowest 64% below NY |
$3,607 45% below NY |
$4,027Highest 39% below NY |
$2,730 59% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.6%±7.7 NY: 52.1% |
48.7%±16.7 NY: 52.1% |
57.1%±25.5Highest NY: 52.1% |
37.1%±26.8Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Olean and Herkimer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 24.3% NY: 14% |
26.4%Highest NY: 14% |
16.3% NY: 14% |
8.9%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.5% NY: 54.3% |
52.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
77.9% NY: 54.3% |
84%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1941 18 yrs older than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1962Highest 3 yrs newer than NY |
1952 7 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 42% below NY |
20 minHighest 38% below NY |
19 min 43% below NY |
14 minLowest 56% below NY |
| Work from home | 4.5%±2 NY: 14.9% |
8.4%±6.8Highest NY: 14.9% |
5.8%±4.7 NY: 14.9% |
2.4%±2.5Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Herkimer 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 | #465 of 484 in NY | — | #337 of 484 in NY | #465 of 484 in NY |
| School district | DUNKIRK CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | — | — |
| High school in town | DUNKIRK SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.