Compare towns
Ellery vs Olean vs Chester
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 most homeowners (89.5%).
Olean has grown the fastest since 2010 (-4.2%).
Chester has the most people working from home (11.2%).
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 | Olean | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,073Highest |
1,664Lowest |
3,074 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-4.2%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-8% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 56.1±4.5Highest 41% above NY |
53.8±5.5Lowest 35% above NY |
54.1±6.7 36% above NY |
| Ellery and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.3%±3.8Lowest NY: 20.5% |
15.6%±4.5Highest NY: 20.5% |
15.1%±4.9 NY: 20.5% |
| Olean and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.8%±6.6 NY: 17.9% |
25.2%±5.1Lowest NY: 17.9% |
32.4%±5.3Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Chester and Ellery 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% |
23.3%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
36.5% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2Highest NY: 7% |
2.5%±1.5 NY: 7% |
1.5%±1.5Lowest 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 |
$74,583±$20kLowest 13% below NY |
$84,623±$20k about the NY average |
| Ellery and Chester 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 |
$158,600±$17kLowest 63% below NY |
$306,400±$38kHighest 28% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $845±$189 48% below NY |
$666±$334Lowest 59% below NY |
$868±$163Highest 46% below NY |
| Chester and Ellery 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 |
$4,027Highest 39% below NY |
$2,924Lowest 56% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.9%±16.8 NY: 52.1% |
57.1%±25.5Highest NY: 52.1% |
25.6%±27.3Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Olean and Ellery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.2% NY: 14% |
16.3%Highest NY: 14% |
6.6%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.5%Highest NY: 54.3% |
77.9%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
85.5% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 8 yrs newer than NY |
1962Lowest 3 yrs newer than NY |
1979Highest 20 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 29% below NY |
19 minLowest 43% below NY |
24 minHighest 26% below NY |
| Work from home | 4.5%±2.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
5.8%±4.7 NY: 14.9% |
11.2%±5.6Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Chester 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 | #241 of 484 in NY | #337 of 484 in NY | #307 of 484 in NY |
| School district | BEMUS POINT CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | — |
| High school in town | MAPLE GROVE JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.6 |
— | — |
| 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.