Compare towns
Hamlin vs Olean vs Phelps
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.5%).
Olean has the oldest population (median age 53.8).
Phelps has the most kids (21.6% 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 | Hamlin | Olean | Phelps |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,652Highest |
1,664Lowest |
6,624 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.2% NY: +4.2% |
-6.2%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 41.9±3.7Lowest 5% above NY |
53.8±5.5Highest 35% above NY |
44.4±4.8 12% above NY |
| Olean and Phelps are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.2%±3.5 NY: 20.5% |
15.6%±4.5Lowest NY: 20.5% |
21.6%±3.8Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Phelps and Hamlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±3.2Lowest NY: 17.9% |
25.2%±5.1Highest NY: 17.9% |
23.1%±3.3 NY: 17.9% |
| Olean and Phelps are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.3%Highest NY: 40.2% |
23.3%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
25.6% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.3 NY: 7% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest NY: 7% |
4.4%±2.2Highest NY: 7% |
| Phelps 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±$9kHighest about the NY average |
$74,583±$20kLowest 13% below NY |
$80,262±$13k 7% below NY |
| Hamlin and Phelps 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 |
$158,600±$17kLowest 63% below NY |
$166,300±$10kHighest 61% below NY |
| Phelps and Hamlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,062±$137 34% below NY |
$666±$334Lowest 59% below NY |
$1,124±$95Highest 31% below NY |
| Phelps and Hamlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,343Highest 34% below NY |
$4,027 39% below NY |
$3,932Lowest 40% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.6%±13.6Highest NY: 52.1% |
57.1%±25.5 NY: 52.1% |
43.7%±14.2Lowest 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% |
16.3%Highest NY: 14% |
10.2%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.3%Highest NY: 54.3% |
77.9%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
88.1% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY |
1962 3 yrs newer than NY |
1953Lowest 6 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 15% below NY |
19 minLowest 43% below NY |
21 min 36% below NY |
| Work from home | 12.2%±4.2 NY: 14.9% |
5.8%±4.7Lowest NY: 14.9% |
13%±4.6Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Phelps and Hamlin 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 | #197 of 484 in NY |
| School district | — | — | PHELPS-CLIFTON SPRINGS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | — | MIDLAKES MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.4 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.