Compare towns
Halifax vs Olean vs Albany
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Albany has the most kids (31% under 18).
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 | Halifax | Olean | Albany |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 847Lowest |
13,738Highest |
934 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.6±13.1 4% above U.S. |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.4±6.2Highest 9% above U.S. |
| Albany and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25.4%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
31%±10.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Albany and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±7.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Halifax and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Albany and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $63,889±$7kHighest 21% below U.S. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$59,167±$14k 27% below U.S. |
| Halifax and Albany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,500±$21kHighest 20% below U.S. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$231,500±$12k 30% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$154 38% below U.S. |
$794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$1,114±$23Highest 21% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,991Highest 60% above U.S. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,093 31% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±73.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
44%±65.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Halifax and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.9%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±11.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Halifax and Albany 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 | Halifax School District | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District |
| High school in town | None in town | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.