Compare towns
Ellicott vs Olean 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
Olean has the highest household income ($75k).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
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 | Olean | Jamestown West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,659 |
1,664Lowest |
13,738Highest |
2,424 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6% NY: +4.2% |
-4.2%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-3.6% NY: +4.2% |
+10.1%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 45.3±3.1 14% above NY |
53.8±5.5 35% above NY |
39±2.6Lowest about the NY average |
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%±3.2 NY: 20.5% |
15.6%±4.5Lowest NY: 20.5% |
23.5%±2.9Highest NY: 20.5% |
18.7%±4 NY: 20.5% |
| Olean 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% |
25.2%±5.1 NY: 17.9% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest 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% |
29.9% 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% |
3.6%±1.1 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 |
$51,261±$7kLowest 40% below NY |
$54,250±$14k 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±$10k 72% below NY |
$158,600±$17kHighest 63% below NY |
$86,100±$6kLowest 80% 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 |
$794±$52 51% 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 |
$3,130 52% 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% |
52%±9.1 NY: 52.1% |
45.5%±18.9Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Olean 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% |
16.3% NY: 14% |
26.7%Highest NY: 14% |
9.5%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9% NY: 54.3% |
77.9%Highest NY: 54.3% |
55.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
68.1% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955 4 yrs older than NY |
1962 3 yrs newer than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1963Highest 4 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 16 min 52% below NY |
19 minHighest 43% below NY |
14 min 56% below NY |
11 minLowest 65% below NY |
| Work from home | 6.2%±2.1 NY: 14.9% |
5.8%±4.7Lowest NY: 14.9% |
8.4%±2.6Highest NY: 14.9% |
7%±4.3 NY: 14.9% |
| Olean and Jamestown West 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 | #337 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | FALCONER CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · SOUTHWESTERN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT AT JAMESTOWN | — | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | FALCONER MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL | — | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.5Lowest |
— | 12.2Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.