Compare towns
Hamlin vs Olean vs Williamson 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 homeowners (89.3%).
Olean has the oldest population (median age 53.8).
Williamson has the most people working from home (16.2%).
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 | Olean | Williamson | Parma |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,652 |
1,664Lowest |
6,823 |
16,111Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5% NY: +4.2% |
-4.2%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-1.8% NY: +4.2% |
+3.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 41.9±3.7 5% above NY |
53.8±5.5Highest 35% above NY |
40.9±4.2 about the NY average |
40.4±3.3Lowest about the NY average |
| Kids under 18 | 20.2%±3.5 NY: 20.5% |
15.6%±4.5Lowest NY: 20.5% |
19.6%±3.3 NY: 20.5% |
25.6%±3.3Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Parma and Hamlin 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% |
25.2%±5.1Highest NY: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.5 NY: 17.9% |
18.3%±2.1Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Olean and Williamson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.3% NY: 40.2% |
23.3%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
34.2% NY: 40.2% |
35.9%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.3 NY: 7% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest NY: 7% |
4.5%±2Highest NY: 7% |
4.3%±1.2 NY: 7% |
| Williamson and Parma 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 |
$74,583±$20kLowest 13% below NY |
$90,515±$14k 5% above NY |
$93,558±$8kHighest 9% above NY |
| Parma and Williamson 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 |
$192,700±$18k 55% below NY |
$220,000±$15kHighest 48% below NY |
| Parma and Williamson 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±$334 59% below NY |
$659±$304Lowest 59% 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 |
$4,027Lowest 39% below NY |
$5,172 21% below NY |
$5,549Highest 16% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.6%±13.6Highest NY: 52.1% |
57.1%±25.5 NY: 52.1% |
25.1%±12.5Lowest 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% |
16.3%Highest NY: 14% |
9% NY: 14% |
8.1%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.3%Highest NY: 54.3% |
77.9%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
86.9% NY: 54.3% |
82.3% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY |
1962Lowest 3 yrs newer than NY |
1965 6 yrs newer than NY |
1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 15% below NY |
19 minLowest 43% below NY |
25 min 25% below NY |
22 min 32% below NY |
| Work from home | 12.2%±4.2 NY: 14.9% |
5.8%±4.7Lowest NY: 14.9% |
16.2%±6.5Highest NY: 14.9% |
10.3%±2.2 NY: 14.9% |
| Williamson 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 | #221 of 484 in NY | #88 of 484 in NY |
| School district | — | — | WILLIAMSON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | HILTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | — | WILLIAMSON SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | HILTON HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.3Lowest |
11.9Highest |
| 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.