Compare towns
Evans vs Johnson City vs Olean vs Sodus
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Evans has the most expensive homes ($177k median).
Johnson City has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
Olean has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Sodus has the oldest population (median age 50.7).
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 | Evans | Johnson City | Olean | Sodus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,183Highest |
14,940 |
13,738 |
8,080Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+1.1%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-3.6% NY: +4.2% |
-4.2% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 49.5±2.8 24% above NY |
40.7±3.4 about the NY average |
39±2.6Lowest about the NY average |
50.7±5.5Highest 27% above NY |
| Sodus and Evans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±2.2 NY: 20.5% |
18.1%±2.6 NY: 20.5% |
23.5%±2.9Highest NY: 20.5% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Olean and Johnson City are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.1%±2.5Highest NY: 17.9% |
22.4%±2.6 NY: 17.9% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest NY: 17.9% |
23.8%±3.8 NY: 17.9% |
| Evans and Sodus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.3% NY: 40.2% |
29.6% NY: 40.2% |
29.9%Highest NY: 40.2% |
20.4%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±0.9 NY: 7% |
9%±2.2Highest NY: 7% |
3.6%±1.1 NY: 7% |
1.8%±0.9Lowest NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,467±$8kHighest 16% below NY |
$56,283±$4k 35% below NY |
$51,261±$7kLowest 40% below NY |
$70,478±$13k 18% below NY |
| Evans and Sodus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $176,500±$10kHighest 58% below NY |
$117,100±$4k 72% below NY |
$86,100±$6kLowest 80% below NY |
$152,500±$18k 64% below NY |
| Evans and Sodus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $919±$104 43% below NY |
$1,031±$66Highest 36% below NY |
$794±$52Lowest 51% below NY |
$853±$194 47% below NY |
| Johnson City and Evans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,590Highest 30% below NY |
$3,982 40% below NY |
$3,130Lowest 52% below NY |
$3,866 41% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.7%±10.7Lowest NY: 52.1% |
57.8%±10.9Highest NY: 52.1% |
52%±9.1 NY: 52.1% |
39.9%±7.5 NY: 52.1% |
| Johnson City and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.9%Lowest NY: 14% |
19.6% NY: 14% |
26.7%Highest NY: 14% |
17.1% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
52.3%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
55.1% NY: 54.3% |
81.9% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 2 yrs older than NY |
1949 10 yrs older than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1958Highest 1 yr older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% below NY |
17 min 49% below NY |
14 minLowest 56% below NY |
23 min 31% below NY |
| Work from home | 8.8%±2.4 NY: 14.9% |
9.7%±3.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
8.4%±2.6 NY: 14.9% |
8%±3.9Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Johnson City and Evans 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 | #180 of 484 in NY | — | #337 of 484 in NY | #352 of 484 in NY |
| School district | EVANS-BRANT CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT (LAKE SHORE) | — | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | SODUS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | LAKE SHORE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | SODUS JR/SR HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6 |
— | 12.2Highest |
9.7Lowest |
| 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.