Compare towns
Franklin vs Meredith 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
Franklin has the most people working from home (10.7%).
Meredith has the highest household income ($86k).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
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 | Franklin | Meredith | Olean |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,359 |
1,467Lowest |
13,738Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-2.9%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-3.6% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 52.2±4.1 31% above NY |
54.3±4.6Highest 36% above NY |
39±2.6Lowest about the NY average |
| Meredith and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.6%±3Lowest NY: 20.5% |
17%±4.3 NY: 20.5% |
23.5%±2.9Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Olean and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.8%±5.8Highest NY: 17.9% |
30.8%±4Highest NY: 17.9% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.6%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
33.8%Highest NY: 40.2% |
29.9% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.3 NY: 7% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest NY: 7% |
3.6%±1.1Highest NY: 7% |
| Olean and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,323±$6k 25% below NY |
$85,938±$16kHighest about the NY average |
$51,261±$7kLowest 40% below NY |
| Meredith and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $210,600±$23k 50% below NY |
$230,600±$24kHighest 46% below NY |
$86,100±$6kLowest 80% below NY |
| Meredith and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $803±$129Highest 50% below NY |
$794±$175Lowest 51% below NY |
$794±$52Lowest 51% below NY |
| Franklin and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,332 49% below NY |
$3,630Highest 45% below NY |
$3,130Lowest 52% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.9%±21.2Lowest NY: 52.1% |
53.1%±53.6Highest NY: 52.1% |
52%±9.1 NY: 52.1% |
| Meredith and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.2% NY: 14% |
7.4%Lowest NY: 14% |
26.7%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83% NY: 54.3% |
92.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
55.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 12 yrs newer than NY |
1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
14 minLowest 56% below NY |
| Work from home | 10.7%±4.1Highest NY: 14.9% |
10.1%±4.3 NY: 14.9% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Franklin and Meredith 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.