Compare towns
Ellicott vs Olean vs Jamestown West
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 most affordable homes ($121k median).
Olean has the highest household income ($75k).
Jamestown West has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.1%).
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 | Olean | Jamestown West |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,659Highest |
1,664Lowest |
2,424 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6% NY: +4.2% |
-4.2%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+10.1%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 45.3±3.1Lowest 14% above NY |
53.8±5.5 35% above NY |
55.8±13.6Highest 40% above NY |
| Jamestown West and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±3.2Highest NY: 20.5% |
15.6%±4.5Lowest NY: 20.5% |
18.7%±4 NY: 20.5% |
| Ellicott and Jamestown West are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.1%±3.2Lowest NY: 17.9% |
25.2%±5.1 NY: 17.9% |
34.9%±7.7Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Jamestown West 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% |
23.3%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
34.1%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±0.9Lowest NY: 7% |
2.5%±1.5 NY: 7% |
3.8%±2.3Highest NY: 7% |
| Jamestown West 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±$7k 29% below NY |
$74,583±$20kHighest 13% below NY |
$54,250±$14kLowest 37% below NY |
| Olean and Ellicott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $120,700±$10kLowest 72% below NY |
$158,600±$17kHighest 63% below NY |
$146,000±$27k 66% below NY |
| Olean and Jamestown West 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 |
$666±$334Lowest 59% below NY |
$892±$253Highest 45% below NY |
| Jamestown West and Ellicott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,662Lowest 60% below NY |
$4,027Highest 39% below NY |
$3,045 54% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.5%±9.3 NY: 52.1% |
57.1%±25.5Highest NY: 52.1% |
45.5%±18.9Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Olean and Ellicott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11% NY: 14% |
16.3%Highest NY: 14% |
9.5%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9% NY: 54.3% |
77.9%Highest NY: 54.3% |
68.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 4 yrs older than NY |
1962 3 yrs newer than NY |
1963Highest 4 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 16 min 52% below NY |
19 minHighest 43% below NY |
11 minLowest 65% below NY |
| Work from home | 6.2%±2.1 NY: 14.9% |
5.8%±4.7Lowest NY: 14.9% |
7%±4.3Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Jamestown West 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 | — | — |
| High school in town | FALCONER MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.5 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 1 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.