Compare towns
Gerry vs Olean vs Wells vs Ellington
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 most renters (24.8% rent).
Olean has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Ellington has the youngest population (median age 42.1).
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 | Olean | Wells | Ellington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,668Highest |
1,664 |
1,148Lowest |
1,554 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.4±5.7 35% above U.S. |
53.8±5.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
50.7±5.2 30% above U.S. |
42.1±4.8Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Olean 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% |
15.6%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.1%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Ellington 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gerry and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
12.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gerry and Ellington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $68,667±$12k 15% below U.S. |
$74,583±$20k 8% below U.S. |
$75,417±$11kHighest 7% below U.S. |
$65,000±$15kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Wells and Olean 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. |
$158,600±$17k 52% below U.S. |
$243,000±$42kHighest 27% below U.S. |
$114,300±$13kLowest 66% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,138±$260 19% below U.S. |
$666±$334Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$1,313±$282Highest 7% below U.S. |
$681±$342 52% below U.S. |
| Wells and Gerry 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. |
$4,027Highest 29% above U.S. |
$3,308 6% above U.S. |
$2,472Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.2%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±25.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.5%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ellington and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
18%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
48 minHighest 80% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wells and Ellington 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 | CASSADAGA VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | — |
| High school in town | CASSADAGA VALLEY MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL | — | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7 |
— | — | — |
| 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.