Compare towns

Ellery vs Gerry vs Mendon vs Olean

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ellery has the oldest population (median age 56.1).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
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.

MeasureElleryGerryMendonOlean
People
Population
4,073
1,668
1,113Lowest
13,738Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-6.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
56.1±4.5Highest
44% above U.S.
52.4±5.7
35% above U.S.
53.4±10.5
37% above U.S.
39±2.6Lowest
about the U.S. average
Ellery and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
14.3%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.9%±3.9
U.S.: 22%
14.6%±5.2
U.S.: 22%
23.5%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
Olean and Gerry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
30.8%±6.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
29.9%±3.1
U.S.: 17.2%
29%±1.3
U.S.: 17.2%
19.1%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Ellery and Gerry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
40%
U.S.: 35.7%
23.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
49.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
29.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.4%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.4%±2.3
U.S.: 6.4%
3.1%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.6%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
Ellery and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$86,833±$12k
8% above U.S.
$68,667±$12k
15% below U.S.
$100,524±$23kHighest
25% above U.S.
$51,261±$7kLowest
37% below U.S.
Mendon and Ellery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$235,900±$29k
29% below U.S.
$119,200±$10k
64% below U.S.
$357,000±$44kHighest
7% above U.S.
$86,100±$6kLowest
74% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$845±$189
40% below U.S.
$1,138±$260
19% below U.S.
$1,230±$651Highest
13% below U.S.
$794±$52Lowest
44% below U.S.
Mendon and Gerry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,796
22% above U.S.
$2,606Lowest
16% below U.S.
$5,342Highest
71% above U.S.
$3,130
about the U.S. average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
35.9%±16.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
61.2%±16.1
U.S.: 51.1%
88.6%±42.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
52%±9.1
U.S.: 51.1%
Mendon and Gerry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
9%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
26.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
75.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
92.2%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
55.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1967
13 yrs older than U.S.
1967
13 yrs older than U.S.
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 min
12% below U.S.
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
17 min
36% below U.S.
14 minLowest
45% below U.S.
Work from home
4.5%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.2%±4.2
U.S.: 15.1%
22.5%±8.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
8.4%±2.6
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #241 of 484 in NY — — #337 of 484 in NY
School district BEMUS POINT CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT CASSADAGA VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT — OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town MAPLE GROVE JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL CASSADAGA VALLEY MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL — OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school
7.6Lowest
8.7
—
12.2Highest
On TownTapestry
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U.S. 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.