Compare towns
Hancock vs Worcester vs Olean
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 most renters (23.6% rent).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Olean has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Worcester | Olean |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,769Highest |
831Lowest |
1,664 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -14.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.3±5.7Highest 40% above U.S. |
47±2.7Lowest 21% above U.S. |
53.8±5.5 38% above U.S. |
| 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%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Olean and Hancock 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% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±5.1 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% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester 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. |
$73,833±$18k 9% below U.S. |
$74,583±$20kHighest 8% below U.S. |
| Olean and Worcester 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. |
$271,100±$27kHighest 19% below U.S. |
$158,600±$17kLowest 52% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,052±$172Highest 26% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136 28% below U.S. |
$666±$334Lowest 53% below U.S. |
| Hancock and Worcester 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. |
$4,421Highest 42% above U.S. |
$4,027 29% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±25.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hancock and Olean 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% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #471 of 484 in NY | — | #337 of 484 in NY |
| School district | HANCOCK CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| 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.