What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hector has the most people working from home (13.6%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hector	Olean
People
Population	4,850Highest	1,664Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.9%Highest NY: +4.2%	-4.2%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	51.1±4Lowest 28% above NY	53.8±5.5Highest 35% above NY
	Olean and Hector are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18%±3.8Highest NY: 20.5%	15.6%±4.5Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Hector and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25%±5Lowest NY: 17.9%	25.2%±5.1Highest NY: 17.9%
	Olean and Hector 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%	23.3%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±1.6Highest NY: 7%	2.5%±1.5Lowest NY: 7%
	Hector and Olean 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	$74,583±$20kLowest 13% below NY
	Hector and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$218,700±$32kHighest 48% below NY	$158,600±$17kLowest 63% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,083±$525Highest 33% below NY	$666±$334Lowest 59% 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	$4,027Lowest 39% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	81.7%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1%	57.1%±25.5Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Hector and Olean 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%	16.3%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.4%Highest NY: 54.3%	77.9%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 20 yrs newer than NY	1962Lowest 3 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 18% below NY	19 minLowest 43% below NY
Work from home	13.6%±4.8Highest NY: 14.9%	5.8%±4.7Lowest 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
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.