Compare towns
Hector vs Massena vs Olean
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hector has the most expensive homes ($219k median).
Olean has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
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 | Hector | Massena | Olean |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,850Lowest |
10,238 |
13,738Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-7.2%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-3.6% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 51.1±4Highest 28% above NY |
42.6±4.7 7% above NY |
39±2.6Lowest about the NY average |
| Hector and Massena are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.8Lowest NY: 20.5% |
19.4%±3.4 NY: 20.5% |
23.5%±2.9Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Olean and Massena are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25%±5Highest NY: 17.9% |
20.4%±3.3 NY: 17.9% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Hector and Massena are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9%Highest NY: 40.2% |
25.1%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
29.9% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 NY: 7% |
2.9%±1.4Lowest NY: 7% |
3.6%±1.1Highest NY: 7% |
| Olean and Hector are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,904±$19kHighest 7% below NY |
$51,458±$7k 40% below NY |
$51,261±$7kLowest 40% below NY |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $218,700±$32kHighest 48% below NY |
$94,400±$15k 78% below NY |
$86,100±$6kLowest 80% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,083±$525Highest 33% below NY |
$722±$44Lowest 55% below NY |
$794±$52 51% below NY |
| Hector and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,072Highest 38% below NY |
$3,218 51% below NY |
$3,130Lowest 52% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 81.7%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
57.8%±11.4 NY: 52.1% |
52%±9.1Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Hector and Massena are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.6%Lowest NY: 14% |
24.3% NY: 14% |
26.7%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4%Highest NY: 54.3% |
55.4% NY: 54.3% |
55.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 20 yrs newer than NY |
1954 5 yrs older than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 18% below NY |
18 min 45% below NY |
14 minLowest 56% below NY |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4.8Highest NY: 14.9% |
5.2%±2.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
8.4%±2.6 NY: 14.9% |
| Hector 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 | — | — | #337 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.