What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dunkirk has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.4%).

Olean has the most expensive homes ($159k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Dunkirk	Olean
People
Population	12,549Highest	1,664Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.4%Highest NY: +4.2%	-4.2%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	43.7±3.1Lowest 10% above NY	53.8±5.5Highest 35% above NY
Kids under 18	20%±2.8Highest NY: 20.5%	15.6%±4.5Lowest 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%	25.2%±5.1Highest NY: 17.9%
	Olean 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%	23.3%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1.5Highest NY: 7%	2.5%±1.5Lowest 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±$6kLowest 38% below NY	$74,583±$20kHighest 13% 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	$158,600±$17kHighest 63% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$866±$81Highest 47% below NY	$666±$334Lowest 59% 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	$4,027Highest 39% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.6%±7.7Lowest NY: 52.1%	57.1%±25.5Highest NY: 52.1%
	Olean and Dunkirk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	24.3%Highest NY: 14%	16.3%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	58.5%Lowest NY: 54.3%	77.9%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1941Lowest 18 yrs older than NY	1962Highest 3 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minHighest 42% below NY	19 minLowest 43% below NY
Work from home	4.5%±2Lowest NY: 14.9%	5.8%±4.7Highest NY: 14.9%
	Olean and Dunkirk 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	—
High school in town	DUNKIRK SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	—
Students per teacherat that high school	9.7	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.