Compare towns
Ellicott vs Olean vs Ilion
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.6%).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Ilion has the highest household income ($63k).
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 | Ilion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,659 |
13,738Highest |
7,593Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-3.6% NY: +4.2% |
-5.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 45.3±3.1Highest 14% above NY |
39±2.6Lowest about the NY average |
44.9±3.4 13% above NY |
| Ellicott and Ilion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±3.2Lowest NY: 20.5% |
23.5%±2.9Highest NY: 20.5% |
20.8%±4.9 NY: 20.5% |
| Olean and Ilion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.1%±3.2Highest NY: 17.9% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest NY: 17.9% |
22.4%±4 NY: 17.9% |
| Ellicott and Ilion 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% |
29.9%Highest NY: 40.2% |
22.8%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±0.9 NY: 7% |
3.6%±1.1Highest NY: 7% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest NY: 7% |
| Olean and Ellicott 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 |
$51,261±$7kLowest 40% below NY |
$62,843±$16kHighest 27% below NY |
| Ilion 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±$10kHighest 72% below NY |
$86,100±$6kLowest 80% below NY |
$108,700±$16k 74% below NY |
| Ellicott and Ilion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$46Highest 46% below NY |
$794±$52 51% below NY |
$694±$228Lowest 57% below NY |
| Ellicott and Olean 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 |
$3,130Highest 52% below NY |
$2,958 55% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.5%±9.3 NY: 52.1% |
52%±9.1Highest NY: 52.1% |
45.9%±15Lowest 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%Lowest NY: 14% |
26.7%Highest NY: 14% |
14.5% NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9%Highest NY: 54.3% |
55.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
66.2% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Highest 4 yrs older than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 16 min 52% below NY |
14 minLowest 56% below NY |
20 minHighest 39% below NY |
| Work from home | 6.2%±2.1Lowest NY: 14.9% |
8.4%±2.6Highest NY: 14.9% |
7.8%±4.3 NY: 14.9% |
| Olean and Ilion 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 | 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 |
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.