Compare towns

Ira vs Johnson City vs Olean

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ira has the most expensive homes ($273k median).
Johnson City has the most people working from home (9.7%).
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.

MeasureIraJohnson CityOlean
People
Population
381Lowest
14,940Highest
13,738
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+1.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
54.1±5.5Highest
39% above U.S.
40.7±3.4
5% above U.S.
39±2.6Lowest
about the U.S. average
Kids under 18
10.5%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.1%±2.6
U.S.: 22%
23.5%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
Olean and Johnson City are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
28.9%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.4%±2.6
U.S.: 17.2%
19.1%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
37.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
29.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
29.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.4%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
9%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.6%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$71,827±$5kHighest
11% below U.S.
$56,283±$4k
30% below U.S.
$51,261±$7kLowest
37% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$272,900±$18kHighest
18% below U.S.
$117,100±$4k
65% below U.S.
$86,100±$6kLowest
74% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$942±$52
33% below U.S.
$1,031±$66Highest
27% below U.S.
$794±$52Lowest
44% below U.S.
Johnson City and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,146Highest
33% above U.S.
$3,982
28% above U.S.
$3,130Lowest
about the U.S. average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
36.4%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
57.8%±10.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
52%±9.1
U.S.: 51.1%
Johnson City and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
14.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
19.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
26.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
52.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
55.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975Highest
5 yrs older than U.S.
1949
31 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
6% above U.S.
17 min
38% below U.S.
14 minLowest
45% below U.S.
Work from home
2.3%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
9.7%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
8.4%±2.6
U.S.: 15.1%
Johnson City 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
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U.S. 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.