Compare towns
Dunkirk vs Massena vs Olean
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
Bordering DunkirkDunkirk
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dunkirk has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.4%).
Olean has the most people working from home (8.4%).
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 | Massena | Olean |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,549 |
10,238Lowest |
13,738Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-7.2%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-3.6% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 43.7±3.1Highest 10% above NY |
42.6±4.7 7% above NY |
39±2.6Lowest about the NY average |
| Dunkirk and Massena are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±2.8 NY: 20.5% |
19.4%±3.4Lowest NY: 20.5% |
23.5%±2.9Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Olean and Dunkirk 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% |
20.4%±3.3Highest NY: 17.9% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Massena and Dunkirk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.4%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
25.1% NY: 40.2% |
29.9%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.5Highest NY: 7% |
2.9%±1.4Lowest NY: 7% |
3.6%±1.1 NY: 7% |
| Dunkirk and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $53,299±$6kHighest 38% below NY |
$51,458±$7k 40% below NY |
$51,261±$7kLowest 40% below NY |
| Dunkirk and Massena are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $94,700±$6kHighest 78% below NY |
$94,400±$15k 78% below NY |
$86,100±$6kLowest 80% below NY |
| Dunkirk and Massena are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $866±$81Highest 47% below NY |
$722±$44Lowest 55% below NY |
$794±$52 51% 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 | $2,352Lowest 64% below NY |
$3,218Highest 51% below NY |
$3,130 52% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.6%±7.7Lowest NY: 52.1% |
57.8%±11.4Highest NY: 52.1% |
52%±9.1 NY: 52.1% |
| Massena and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 24.3%Lowest NY: 14% |
24.3%Lowest NY: 14% |
26.7%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.5%Highest NY: 54.3% |
55.4% NY: 54.3% |
55.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1941 18 yrs older than NY |
1954Highest 5 yrs older than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minHighest 42% below NY |
18 min 45% below NY |
14 minLowest 56% below NY |
| Work from home | 4.5%±2Lowest NY: 14.9% |
5.2%±2.6 NY: 14.9% |
8.4%±2.6Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Olean and Massena 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 |
| School district | DUNKIRK CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | DUNKIRK SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
— | 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.