Compare towns
Gerry vs Halifax vs Olean vs Hancock
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gerry has the highest household income ($69k).
Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Olean has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Hancock has the oldest population (median age 54.3).
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 | Gerry | Halifax | Olean | Hancock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,668 |
847Lowest |
13,738Highest |
2,769 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-14.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.4±5.7 35% above U.S. |
40.6±13.1 4% above U.S. |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
54.3±5.7Highest 40% above U.S. |
| Hancock and Gerry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
25.4%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.9%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±7.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Olean and Gerry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $68,667±$12kHighest 15% below U.S. |
$63,889±$7k 21% below U.S. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$62,243±$11k 23% below U.S. |
| Gerry and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $119,200±$10k 64% below U.S. |
$267,500±$21kHighest 20% below U.S. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$161,100±$8k 52% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,138±$260Highest 19% below U.S. |
$875±$154 38% below U.S. |
$794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$1,052±$172 26% below U.S. |
| Gerry and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,606 16% below U.S. |
$4,991Highest 60% above U.S. |
$3,130 about the U.S. average |
$2,584Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.2%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±73.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gerry and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
13% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
30 min 13% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.9%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
7%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #337 of 484 in NY | #471 of 484 in NY |
| School district | CASSADAGA VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Halifax School District | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | HANCOCK CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | CASSADAGA VALLEY MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | HANCOCK JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Lowest |
— | 12.2Highest |
8.9 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.