Compare towns
Hancock vs Olean vs Stratton 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 most people working from home (11.7%).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Stratton has the most expensive homes ($400k median).
Whiting has the oldest population (median age 39.6).
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 | Stratton | Whiting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 435Lowest |
13,738Highest |
532 |
532 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 33.8±11.6 13% below U.S. |
39±2.6 about the U.S. average |
31.5±4.1Lowest 19% below U.S. |
39.6±2.7Highest about the U.S. average |
| Whiting and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
28%±7.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Stratton and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.7%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±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+ | 34.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest 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 | $76,250±$34k 6% below U.S. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$122,708±$33kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$91,250±$38k 13% above U.S. |
| Stratton and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $187,900±$11k 44% below U.S. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$400,000±$50kHighest 20% above U.S. |
$280,400±$36k 16% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $939±$19 34% below U.S. |
$794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$1,208±$979Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,204±$519 15% below U.S. |
| Stratton and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,511 13% above U.S. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,750Highest 52% above U.S. |
$4,227 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 3.5%±16.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±69.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.3%±37.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whiting and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
0%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hancock and Whiting 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 | — | — |
| School district | — | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | — | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.