Compare towns
Gerry vs Olean vs Sharon vs Strafford
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 oldest population (median age 52.4).
Olean has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Sharon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
Strafford has the highest household income ($111k).
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 | Sharon | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,668 |
13,738Highest |
1,577 |
1,372Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.4±5.7Highest 35% above U.S. |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.6±7.7 17% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
| Gerry and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±5 U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Olean and Strafford 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% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.1%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gerry and Sharon 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Olean 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. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$84,375±$17k 5% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Sharon 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. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$346,700±$37k 4% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,138±$260 19% below U.S. |
$794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$1,386±$155Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
| Sharon and Gerry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,606Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$3,130 about the U.S. average |
$5,903 89% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.2%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gerry and Olean 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% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Strafford and Sharon 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 | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Sharon School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | CASSADAGA VALLEY MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Lowest |
12.2Highest |
— | — |
| 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.