Compare towns
Ellicott vs Olean vs Wright 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).
Wright has the most expensive homes ($242k 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 | Wright | Jamestown West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,659Highest |
1,664Lowest |
1,739 |
2,424 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6% NY: +4.2% |
-4.2%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-1.5% 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 |
51.4±4.7 29% 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% |
16.7%±3.1 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%±3.2 NY: 17.9% |
25.2%±5.1 NY: 17.9% |
21.4%±1.9Lowest 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% |
24.4% NY: 40.2% |
34.1%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±0.9 NY: 7% |
2.5%±1.5 NY: 7% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest 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±$20k 13% below NY |
$86,250±$13kHighest about the NY average |
$54,250±$14kLowest 37% below NY |
| Wright and Olean 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±$17k 63% below NY |
$242,000±$36kHighest 43% below NY |
$146,000±$27k 66% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$46 46% below NY |
$666±$334Lowest 59% below NY |
$953±$79Highest 41% below NY |
$892±$253 45% below NY |
| Wright and Jamestown West 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 |
$4,027 39% below NY |
$5,279Highest 20% 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% |
37.6%±16.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
45.5%±18.9 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% |
7%Lowest NY: 14% |
9.5% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9% NY: 54.3% |
77.9% NY: 54.3% |
80.6%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 |
1983Highest 24 yrs newer than NY |
1963 4 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 16 min 52% below NY |
19 min 43% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
11 minLowest 65% below NY |
| Work from home | 6.2%±2.1 NY: 14.9% |
5.8%±4.7Lowest NY: 14.9% |
5.9%±2.8 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 | 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.