Compare towns
Gerry vs Johnson City vs Olean vs Ellicott
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gerry has the oldest population (median age 52.4).
Johnson City has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Ellicott has the most expensive homes ($121k 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 | Gerry | Johnson City | Olean | Ellicott |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,668Lowest |
14,940Highest |
13,738 |
8,659 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.5%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+1.1%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-3.6% NY: +4.2% |
+0.6% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 52.4±5.7Highest 32% above NY |
40.7±3.4 about the NY average |
39±2.6Lowest about the NY average |
45.3±3.1 14% above NY |
| Gerry and Ellicott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3.9 NY: 20.5% |
18.1%±2.6Lowest NY: 20.5% |
23.5%±2.9Highest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±3.2 NY: 20.5% |
| Olean and Gerry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.9%±3.1Highest NY: 17.9% |
22.4%±2.6 NY: 17.9% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest NY: 17.9% |
24.1%±3.2 NY: 17.9% |
| Gerry and Ellicott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.4%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
29.6% NY: 40.2% |
29.9%Highest NY: 40.2% |
27.7% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.3 NY: 7% |
9%±2.2Highest NY: 7% |
3.6%±1.1 NY: 7% |
2.4%±0.9Lowest NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $68,667±$12kHighest 20% below NY |
$56,283±$4k 35% below NY |
$51,261±$7kLowest 40% below NY |
$60,880±$7k 29% below NY |
| Gerry and Ellicott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $119,200±$10k 72% below NY |
$117,100±$4k 72% below NY |
$86,100±$6kLowest 80% below NY |
$120,700±$10kHighest 72% below NY |
| Ellicott and Gerry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,138±$260Highest 30% below NY |
$1,031±$66 36% below NY |
$794±$52Lowest 51% below NY |
$875±$46 46% below NY |
| Gerry and Johnson City are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,606Lowest 60% below NY |
$3,982Highest 40% below NY |
$3,130 52% below NY |
$2,662 60% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.2%±16.1Highest NY: 52.1% |
57.8%±10.9 NY: 52.1% |
52%±9.1 NY: 52.1% |
46.5%±9.3Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Gerry and Johnson City are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9%Lowest NY: 14% |
19.6% NY: 14% |
26.7%Highest NY: 14% |
11% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
52.3%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
55.1% NY: 54.3% |
71.9% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest 8 yrs newer than NY |
1949 10 yrs older than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1955 4 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 17% below NY |
17 min 49% below NY |
14 minLowest 56% below NY |
16 min 52% below NY |
| Work from home | 6.2%±4.2Lowest NY: 14.9% |
9.7%±3.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
8.4%±2.6 NY: 14.9% |
6.2%±2.1Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Johnson City 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 | #203 of 484 in NY |
| School district | CASSADAGA VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | FALCONER CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · SOUTHWESTERN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT AT JAMESTOWN |
| High school in town | CASSADAGA VALLEY MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL | — | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | FALCONER MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Lowest |
— | 12.2Highest |
10.5 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 1 photos → |
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.