Compare towns
Hamlin vs Maine vs Olean vs Parma
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hamlin has the most people working from home (12.2%).
Maine has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Parma has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
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 | Hamlin | Maine | Olean | Parma |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,652 |
5,089Lowest |
13,738 |
16,111Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5% NY: +4.2% |
-3.9%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-3.6% NY: +4.2% |
+3.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 41.9±3.7 5% above NY |
57.1±10Highest 43% above NY |
39±2.6Lowest about the NY average |
40.4±3.3 about the NY average |
| Kids under 18 | 20.2%±3.5 NY: 20.5% |
15.2%±4.6Lowest NY: 20.5% |
23.5%±2.9 NY: 20.5% |
25.6%±3.3Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Parma and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±3.2 NY: 17.9% |
33.4%±8.7Highest NY: 17.9% |
19.1%±2.5 NY: 17.9% |
18.3%±2.1Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.3%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
28% NY: 40.2% |
29.9% NY: 40.2% |
35.9%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.3 NY: 7% |
2.8%±2Lowest NY: 7% |
3.6%±1.1 NY: 7% |
4.3%±1.2Highest NY: 7% |
| Parma and Hamlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $83,510±$9k about the NY average |
$69,115±$19k 20% below NY |
$51,261±$7kLowest 40% below NY |
$93,558±$8kHighest 9% above NY |
| Parma and Hamlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $166,200±$9k 61% below NY |
$156,100±$44k 63% below NY |
$86,100±$6kLowest 80% below NY |
$220,000±$15kHighest 48% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,062±$137 34% below NY |
$939±$49 42% below NY |
$794±$52Lowest 51% below NY |
$1,216±$111Highest 25% below NY |
| Parma and Hamlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,343 34% below NY |
$3,828 42% below NY |
$3,130Lowest 52% below NY |
$5,549Highest 16% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.6%±13.6Highest NY: 52.1% |
26.1%±14.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
52%±9.1 NY: 52.1% |
49.8%±15.2 NY: 52.1% |
| Hamlin and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.5% NY: 14% |
11.6% NY: 14% |
26.7%Highest NY: 14% |
8.1%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.3%Highest NY: 54.3% |
85.3% NY: 54.3% |
55.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
82.3% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY |
1964 5 yrs newer than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 15% below NY |
20 min 40% below NY |
14 minLowest 56% below NY |
22 min 32% below NY |
| Work from home | 12.2%±4.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
10.6%±4.7 NY: 14.9% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
10.3%±2.2 NY: 14.9% |
| Hamlin and Maine 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 | — | #369 of 484 in NY | #337 of 484 in NY | #88 of 484 in NY |
| School district | — | MAINE-ENDWELL CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | HILTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | None in town | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | HILTON HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.2Highest |
11.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.