Compare towns
Hector vs Olean vs Dix vs Deerfield
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 most affordable homes ($86k median).
Deerfield has the highest household income ($101k).
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 | Dix | Deerfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,850 |
13,738Highest |
3,660Lowest |
3,933 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-3.6% NY: +4.2% |
-2.8% NY: +4.2% |
-6.8%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 51.1±4Highest 28% above NY |
39±2.6Lowest about the NY average |
50.1±2.8 26% above NY |
46.6±4.1 17% above NY |
| Hector and Dix 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% |
23.5%±2.9Highest NY: 20.5% |
13.7%±3.4Lowest NY: 20.5% |
19.7%±3.8 NY: 20.5% |
| Olean and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25%±5 NY: 17.9% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest NY: 17.9% |
27.9%±5Highest NY: 17.9% |
24.6%±4.4 NY: 17.9% |
| Dix 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% NY: 40.2% |
29.9% NY: 40.2% |
17.4%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
37.1%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 NY: 7% |
3.6%±1.1 NY: 7% |
2.9%±1.9Lowest NY: 7% |
3.8%±1.6Highest NY: 7% |
| Deerfield 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±$19k 7% below NY |
$51,261±$7kLowest 40% below NY |
$53,668±$8k 38% below NY |
$101,029±$7kHighest 18% above NY |
| Deerfield and Hector are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $218,700±$32k 48% below NY |
$86,100±$6kLowest 80% below NY |
$165,000±$14k 61% below NY |
$231,300±$16kHighest 45% below NY |
| Deerfield and Hector are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,083±$525Highest 33% below NY |
$794±$52 51% below NY |
$718±$172Lowest 56% below NY |
$763±$122 53% 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 |
$3,130Lowest 52% below NY |
$3,141 52% below NY |
$3,990 39% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 81.7%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
52%±9.1 NY: 52.1% |
44.5%±13.6 NY: 52.1% |
44.1%±32.8Lowest 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% NY: 14% |
26.7%Highest NY: 14% |
12.2% NY: 14% |
6.4%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4% NY: 54.3% |
55.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
66.1% NY: 54.3% |
93.4%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 20 yrs newer than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1952 7 yrs older than NY |
1964 5 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 18% below NY |
14 minLowest 56% below NY |
20 min 39% below NY |
21 min 36% below NY |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4.8Highest NY: 14.9% |
8.4%±2.6 NY: 14.9% |
4.3%±2.3Lowest NY: 14.9% |
12.5%±4.2 NY: 14.9% |
| Hector and Deerfield 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 | #391 of 484 in NY | #120 of 484 in NY |
| School district | — | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | WATKINS GLEN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | WHITESBORO CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | WATKINS GLEN CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2Highest |
10.9Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.