What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fairlee has the most expensive homes ($278k median).

Olean has the most kids (23.5% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Fairlee	Olean
People
Population	54Lowest	13,738Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-3.6% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	63.5±7.6Highest 63% above U.S.	39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average
Kids under 18	0%±52.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Olean and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	37%±54.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Fairlee and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	11.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	29.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0%±26.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.6%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Olean and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$21,071±$13kLowest 74% below U.S.	$51,261±$7kHighest 37% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$277,500±$28kHighest 17% below U.S.	$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,057±$620Highest 25% below U.S.	$794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S.
	Fairlee and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,750Highest 20% above U.S.	$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	100%±55.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	52%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Fairlee and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	50%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	26.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	57.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1942Highest 38 yrs older than U.S.	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	—	14 min 45% below U.S.
Work from home	23.5%±30.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Fairlee and Olean 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

U.S. 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.