Compare towns
Ellicott vs Gerry vs Olean vs Busti
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ellicott has the shortest commute (16 min average).
Gerry has the most affordable homes ($119k median).
Olean has the highest household income ($75k).
Busti has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).
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 | Ellicott | Gerry | Olean | Busti |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,659Highest |
1,668 |
1,664Lowest |
7,452 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6% NY: +4.2% |
-6.5%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-4.2% NY: +4.2% |
+2.6%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 45.3±3.1Lowest 14% above NY |
52.4±5.7 32% above NY |
53.8±5.5Highest 35% above NY |
46.6±4.8 17% above NY |
| Olean and Gerry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±3.2 NY: 20.5% |
20.9%±3.9Highest NY: 20.5% |
15.6%±4.5Lowest NY: 20.5% |
19.9%±3.3 NY: 20.5% |
| Gerry and Ellicott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.1%±3.2 NY: 17.9% |
29.9%±3.1Highest NY: 17.9% |
25.2%±5.1 NY: 17.9% |
23.8%±3.5Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Gerry and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.7% NY: 40.2% |
23.4% NY: 40.2% |
23.3%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
29.5%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±0.9Lowest NY: 7% |
3.4%±2.3Highest NY: 7% |
2.5%±1.5 NY: 7% |
2.4%±1.1Lowest NY: 7% |
| Gerry and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $60,880±$7kLowest 29% below NY |
$68,667±$12k 20% below NY |
$74,583±$20kHighest 13% below NY |
$67,292±$9k 22% below NY |
| Olean and Gerry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $120,700±$10k 72% below NY |
$119,200±$10kLowest 72% below NY |
$158,600±$17k 63% below NY |
$164,600±$12kHighest 61% below NY |
| Busti and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$46 46% below NY |
$1,138±$260Highest 30% below NY |
$666±$334Lowest 59% below NY |
$1,085±$106 33% below NY |
| Gerry and Busti are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,662 60% below NY |
$2,606Lowest 60% below NY |
$4,027Highest 39% below NY |
$3,876 41% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.5%±9.3Lowest NY: 52.1% |
61.2%±16.1Highest NY: 52.1% |
57.1%±25.5 NY: 52.1% |
55.5%±13.2 NY: 52.1% |
| Gerry and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11% NY: 14% |
9%Lowest NY: 14% |
16.3%Highest NY: 14% |
14.4% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
75.2% NY: 54.3% |
77.9%Highest NY: 54.3% |
72.7% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 4 yrs older than NY |
1967Highest 8 yrs newer than NY |
1962 3 yrs newer than NY |
1963 4 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 16 minLowest 52% below NY |
27 minHighest 17% below NY |
19 min 43% below NY |
21 min 35% below NY |
| Work from home | 6.2%±2.1 NY: 14.9% |
6.2%±4.2 NY: 14.9% |
5.8%±4.7Lowest NY: 14.9% |
9.5%±4.5Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Busti and Ellicott 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 | #203 of 484 in NY | — | #337 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | FALCONER CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · SOUTHWESTERN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT AT JAMESTOWN | CASSADAGA VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | — |
| High school in town | FALCONER MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL | CASSADAGA VALLEY MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.5Highest |
8.7Lowest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 1 photos → | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.