Compare towns
Grafton vs Olean vs Oswego vs Townshend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Grafton has the most expensive homes ($343k median).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Oswego has the most renters (49.8% rent).
Townshend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
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 | Grafton | Olean | Oswego | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 666Lowest |
13,738 |
17,033Highest |
1,538 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 59.2±4.4Highest 52% above U.S. |
39±2.6 about the U.S. average |
35.7±1.6Lowest 8% below U.S. |
55.6±9.6 43% above U.S. |
| Grafton and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 5.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
12%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Olean and Oswego are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 34.2%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±6.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Oswego and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,111±$7k 6% below U.S. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$53,172±$4k 34% below U.S. |
$78,750±$29kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Townshend and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $343,200±$85kHighest 3% above U.S. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$120,600±$7k 64% below U.S. |
$287,200±$79k 14% below U.S. |
| Grafton and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,288±$174Highest 9% below U.S. |
$794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$1,109±$72 22% below U.S. |
$1,074±$80 24% below U.S. |
| Grafton and Oswego are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,843 55% above U.S. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,362 8% above U.S. |
$5,364Highest 72% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.8%±69.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.4%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townshend and Oswego are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
20.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
50.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 8% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
19 min 30% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.8%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
28%±18.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Townshend and Grafton 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 | #285 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | Athens Grafton School District | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | OSWEGO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | None in town | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | OSWEGO HIGH SCHOOL | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2 |
12.5Highest |
8.1Lowest |
| 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.