Compare towns
Hector vs Olean vs Catharine
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.9%).
Olean has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Catharine has the most affordable homes ($145k median).
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 | Olean | Catharine |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,850Highest |
1,664 |
1,370Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.2% NY: +4.2% |
-6.3%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 51.1±4 28% above NY |
53.8±5.5Highest 35% above NY |
47.4±6.5Lowest 19% 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%±3.8 NY: 20.5% |
15.6%±4.5Lowest NY: 20.5% |
18.1%±3.8Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Catharine and Hector are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25%±5 NY: 17.9% |
25.2%±5.1Highest NY: 17.9% |
21.7%±2.3Lowest 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% NY: 40.2% |
18.9%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 NY: 7% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest NY: 7% |
3.3%±1.7Highest NY: 7% |
| Catharine 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 |
$74,583±$20k 13% below NY |
$58,500±$15kLowest 32% 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±$17k 63% below NY |
$144,900±$11kLowest 66% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,083±$525Highest 33% below NY |
$666±$334Lowest 59% below NY |
$854±$117 47% below NY |
| Hector and Catharine 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 |
$4,027 39% below NY |
$2,675Lowest 59% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 81.7%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
57.1%±25.5Lowest NY: 52.1% |
60.5%±19.2 NY: 52.1% |
| Hector and Catharine 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% NY: 14% |
20.7%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4%Highest NY: 54.3% |
77.9% NY: 54.3% |
75.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 20 yrs newer than NY |
1962 3 yrs newer than NY |
1953Lowest 6 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 18% below NY |
19 minLowest 43% below NY |
25 min 23% below NY |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4.8Highest NY: 14.9% |
5.8%±4.7Lowest NY: 14.9% |
7.7%±4.7 NY: 14.9% |
| Hector and Catharine 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 | — | — | ODESSA-MONTOUR CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | — | ODESSA-MONTOUR JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.0 |
| 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.