Compare towns
Ellery vs Hector vs Olean vs Athens
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ellery has the oldest population (median age 56.1).
Hector has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.9%).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Athens has the most expensive homes ($275k 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 | Ellery | Hector | Olean | Athens |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,073 |
4,850 |
13,738Highest |
3,936Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-0.9%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-3.6% NY: +4.2% |
-4.2% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 56.1±4.5Highest 41% above NY |
51.1±4 28% above NY |
39±2.6Lowest about the NY average |
52.2±4.3 31% above NY |
| Ellery and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.3%±3.8 NY: 20.5% |
18%±3.8 NY: 20.5% |
23.5%±2.9Highest NY: 20.5% |
12.3%±2.8Lowest 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+ | 30.8%±6.6Highest NY: 17.9% |
25%±5 NY: 17.9% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest NY: 17.9% |
26.3%±4.2 NY: 17.9% |
| Ellery and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40%Highest NY: 40.2% |
36.9% NY: 40.2% |
29.9%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
39.4% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2Highest NY: 7% |
3.2%±1.6 NY: 7% |
3.6%±1.1 NY: 7% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest NY: 7% |
| 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±$12kHighest about the NY average |
$79,904±$19k 7% below NY |
$51,261±$7kLowest 40% below NY |
$84,896±$14k about the NY average |
| Ellery and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,900±$29k 44% below NY |
$218,700±$32k 48% below NY |
$86,100±$6kLowest 80% below NY |
$274,700±$31kHighest 35% below NY |
| Athens and Ellery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $845±$189 48% below NY |
$1,083±$525 33% below NY |
$794±$52Lowest 51% below NY |
$1,264±$480Highest 22% below NY |
| Athens and Hector are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,796 42% below NY |
$4,072 38% below NY |
$3,130Lowest 52% below NY |
$4,345Highest 34% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.9%±16.8 NY: 52.1% |
81.7%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
52%±9.1 NY: 52.1% |
31%±12.8Lowest 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 | 9.2% NY: 14% |
15.6% NY: 14% |
26.7%Highest NY: 14% |
6.6%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.5% NY: 54.3% |
91.4%Highest NY: 54.3% |
55.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
84.7% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 8 yrs newer than NY |
1979Highest 20 yrs newer than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1967 8 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 29% below NY |
27 min 18% below NY |
14 minLowest 56% below NY |
29 minHighest 10% below NY |
| Work from home | 4.5%±2.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
13.6%±4.8 NY: 14.9% |
8.4%±2.6 NY: 14.9% |
15.8%±4.3Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Athens and Hector 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 | #241 of 484 in NY | — | #337 of 484 in NY | #261 of 484 in NY |
| School district | BEMUS POINT CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | COXSACKIE-ATHENS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | MAPLE GROVE JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.6Lowest |
— | 12.2Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.