Compare towns
Herkimer 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
Herkimer has the most people working from home (8.4%).
Olean has the highest household income ($75k).
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 | Herkimer | Olean |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 7,566Highest |
1,664Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-4.2%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 45.4±3.4Lowest 14% above NY |
53.8±5.5Highest 35% above NY |
| Olean and Herkimer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.8Lowest NY: 20.5% |
15.6%±4.5Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Olean and Herkimer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
25.2%±5.1Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Olean and Herkimer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15.9%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
23.3%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.4%±2.2Highest NY: 7% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||
| Household incomemedian | $48,529±$16kLowest 44% below NY |
$74,583±$20kHighest 13% below NY |
| Olean and Herkimer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $133,200±$29kLowest 69% below NY |
$158,600±$17kHighest 63% below NY |
| Olean and Herkimer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $821±$82Highest 49% below NY |
$666±$334Lowest 59% below NY |
| Herkimer and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,607Lowest 45% below NY |
$4,027Highest 39% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.7%±16.7Lowest NY: 52.1% |
57.1%±25.5Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Olean and Herkimer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Below poverty line | 26.4%Highest NY: 14% |
16.3%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
77.9%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1962Highest 3 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minHighest 38% below NY |
19 minLowest 43% below NY |
| Work from home | 8.4%±6.8Highest NY: 14.9% |
5.8%±4.7Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Herkimer 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.

