What stands out worked out from the figures below

German Flatts has the most expensive homes ($120k median).

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.

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

Measure	German Flatts	Olean
People
Population	12,134Lowest	13,738Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-7.5%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-3.6%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	46.1±2.4Highest 16% above NY	39±2.6Lowest about the NY average
Kids under 18	20.1%±3.3Lowest NY: 20.5%	23.5%±2.9Highest NY: 20.5%
	Olean and German Flatts are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.6%±3Highest NY: 17.9%	19.1%±2.5Lowest NY: 17.9%
	German Flatts and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	24.1%Lowest NY: 40.2%	29.9%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.6%±0.8Lowest NY: 7%	3.6%±1.1Highest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$67,791±$9kHighest 21% below NY	$51,261±$7kLowest 40% below NY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$119,800±$12kHighest 72% below NY	$86,100±$6kLowest 80% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$728±$110Lowest 55% below NY	$794±$52Highest 51% below NY
	Olean and German Flatts are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,091Lowest 53% below NY	$3,130Highest 52% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40.8%±11.9Lowest NY: 52.1%	52%±9.1Highest NY: 52.1%
	Olean and German Flatts are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.7%Lowest NY: 14%	26.7%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70.8%Highest NY: 54.3%	55.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938 21 yrs older than NY	1938 21 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minHighest 35% below NY	14 minLowest 56% below NY
Work from home	8.7%±2.9Highest NY: 14.9%	8.4%±2.6Lowest NY: 14.9%
	German Flatts 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	#224 of 484 in NY	#337 of 484 in NY
School district	CENTRAL VALLEY CSD AT ILION-MOHAWK	OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	CENTRAL VALLEY ACADEMY	OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	12.7Highest	12.2Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.