Compare towns
Hancock vs Olean vs Whiting
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hancock has the oldest population (median age 54.3).
Olean has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Whiting has the most expensive homes ($280k median).
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 | Hancock | Olean | Whiting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,769Highest |
1,664 |
532Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -14.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 54.3±5.7Highest 40% above U.S. |
53.8±5.5 38% above U.S. |
39.6±2.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Hancock and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±6.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Whiting and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hancock and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Whiting and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $62,243±$11kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$74,583±$20k 8% below U.S. |
$91,250±$38kHighest 13% above U.S. |
| Whiting and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $161,100±$8k 52% below U.S. |
$158,600±$17kLowest 52% below U.S. |
$280,400±$36kHighest 16% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,052±$172 26% below U.S. |
$666±$334Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$1,204±$519Highest 15% below U.S. |
| Whiting and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,584Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$4,027 29% above U.S. |
$4,227Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±25.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.3%±37.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hancock and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Whiting and Hancock 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 | #471 of 484 in NY | #337 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | HANCOCK CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | HANCOCK JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9 |
— | — |
| 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.