Compare towns
Ellington vs Massena vs Olean
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ellington has the most homeowners (88.4%).
Massena has the oldest population (median age 42.6).
Olean has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.6%).
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 | Ellington | Massena | Olean |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,554Lowest |
10,238 |
13,738Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.9%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-7.2% NY: +4.2% |
-3.6%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 42.1±4.8 6% above NY |
42.6±4.7Highest 7% above NY |
39±2.6Lowest about the NY average |
| Massena and Ellington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±4.2Highest NY: 20.5% |
19.4%±3.4Lowest NY: 20.5% |
23.5%±2.9 NY: 20.5% |
| Ellington and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.7 NY: 17.9% |
20.4%±3.3Highest NY: 17.9% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Massena and Ellington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 12.1%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
25.1% NY: 40.2% |
29.9%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.7 NY: 7% |
2.9%±1.4Lowest NY: 7% |
3.6%±1.1Highest NY: 7% |
| Olean and Ellington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $65,000±$15kHighest 24% below NY |
$51,458±$7k 40% below NY |
$51,261±$7kLowest 40% below NY |
| Ellington and Massena are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $114,300±$13kHighest 73% below NY |
$94,400±$15k 78% below NY |
$86,100±$6kLowest 80% below NY |
| Ellington and Massena are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $681±$342Lowest 58% below NY |
$722±$44 55% below NY |
$794±$52Highest 51% below NY |
| Olean and Massena are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,472Lowest 62% below NY |
$3,218Highest 51% below NY |
$3,130 52% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest NY: 52.1% |
57.8%±11.4 NY: 52.1% |
52%±9.1Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Ellington and Massena are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 18%Lowest NY: 14% |
24.3% NY: 14% |
26.7%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.4%Highest NY: 54.3% |
55.4% NY: 54.3% |
55.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY |
1954 5 yrs older than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 24% below NY |
18 min 45% below NY |
14 minLowest 56% below NY |
| Work from home | 6.6%±5.5 NY: 14.9% |
5.2%±2.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
8.4%±2.6Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Olean and Ellington 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 | — | — | #337 of 484 in NY |
| School district | — | — | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | — | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.2 |
| 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.