Compare towns
Evans vs Olean vs Olean vs Hanover
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).
Olean has the oldest population (median age 53.8).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Hanover has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.2%).
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 | Olean | Olean | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,183Highest |
1,664Lowest |
13,738 |
6,882 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-4.2% NY: +4.2% |
-3.6% NY: +4.2% |
-2.2%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 49.5±2.8 24% above NY |
53.8±5.5Highest 35% above NY |
39±2.6Lowest about the NY average |
50.6±5.5 27% above NY |
| Olean and Hanover 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% |
15.6%±4.5Lowest NY: 20.5% |
23.5%±2.9Highest NY: 20.5% |
18%±3.9 NY: 20.5% |
| Olean and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.1%±2.5 NY: 17.9% |
25.2%±5.1 NY: 17.9% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest NY: 17.9% |
26.7%±4.8Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Hanover and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.3%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
23.3% NY: 40.2% |
29.9%Highest NY: 40.2% |
23% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±0.9Highest NY: 7% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest NY: 7% |
3.6%±1.1Highest NY: 7% |
2.6%±1.1 NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,467±$8k 16% below NY |
$74,583±$20kHighest 13% below NY |
$51,261±$7kLowest 40% below NY |
$71,563±$9k 17% below NY |
| Olean and Evans 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 |
$158,600±$17k 63% below NY |
$86,100±$6kLowest 80% below NY |
$141,500±$16k 67% below NY |
| Evans and Olean 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 |
$666±$334Lowest 59% below NY |
$794±$52 51% below NY |
$993±$105Highest 39% below NY |
| Hanover 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 |
$4,027 39% below NY |
$3,130 52% below NY |
$2,881Lowest 56% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.7%±10.7Lowest NY: 52.1% |
57.1%±25.5Highest NY: 52.1% |
52%±9.1 NY: 52.1% |
46.5%±22.9 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 | 11.9%Lowest NY: 14% |
16.3% NY: 14% |
26.7%Highest NY: 14% |
14.2% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
77.9% NY: 54.3% |
55.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
80.7% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 2 yrs older than NY |
1962Highest 3 yrs newer than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1950 9 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% below NY |
19 min 43% below NY |
14 minLowest 56% below NY |
27 min 19% below NY |
| Work from home | 8.8%±2.4 NY: 14.9% |
5.8%±4.7Lowest NY: 14.9% |
8.4%±2.6 NY: 14.9% |
11.5%±5.7Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Hanover 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 | #337 of 484 in NY | #196 of 484 in NY |
| School district | EVANS-BRANT CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT (LAKE SHORE) | — | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | FORESTVILLE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · SILVER CREEK CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | LAKE SHORE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | SILVER CREEK HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6 |
— | 12.2Highest |
9.3Lowest |
| 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.