Compare towns
Hancock vs Olean vs Vernon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hancock has the oldest population (median age 52.5).
Olean has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Vernon has the most people working from home (19.4%).
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 | Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 745Lowest |
13,738Highest |
1,238 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.9%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-3.6% NY: +4.2% |
+0.4%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 52.5±8.7Highest 32% above NY |
39±2.6Lowest about the NY average |
47.1±6.5 18% above NY |
| Hancock and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13%±5.8Lowest NY: 20.5% |
23.5%±2.9Highest NY: 20.5% |
14.3%±4.8 NY: 20.5% |
| Age 65+ | 30.2%±5.1Highest NY: 17.9% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest NY: 17.9% |
20.3%±2.8 NY: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.8% NY: 40.2% |
29.9%Highest NY: 40.2% |
18.1%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±3.8 NY: 7% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest NY: 7% |
8.2%±5.1Highest NY: 7% |
| Vernon and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $51,765±$9k 40% below NY |
$51,261±$7kLowest 40% below NY |
$63,988±$15kHighest 26% below NY |
| Vernon and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $150,000±$34k 65% below NY |
$86,100±$6kLowest 80% below NY |
$184,300±$23kHighest 57% below NY |
| Vernon and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $958±$181Highest 41% below NY |
$794±$52Lowest 51% below NY |
$921±$54 43% below NY |
| Hancock and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,756Highest 43% below NY |
$3,130Lowest 52% below NY |
$3,393 48% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.7%±22.1Highest NY: 52.1% |
52%±9.1 NY: 52.1% |
40.8%±19Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Hancock and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.6% NY: 14% |
26.7%Highest NY: 14% |
12.4%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
55.1% NY: 54.3% |
59.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1942Highest 17 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 25% below NY |
14 minLowest 56% below NY |
22 min 32% below NY |
| Work from home | 7.5%±7.5Lowest NY: 14.9% |
8.4%±2.6 NY: 14.9% |
19.4%±18.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Vernon and Olean 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 | #368 of 484 in NY |
| School district | — | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | — | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2 |
— |
| 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.