Compare towns
Jamaica vs Mendon vs Olean vs Grafton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jamaica has the most homeowners (96.9%).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Grafton has the oldest population (median age 59.2).
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 | Jamaica | Mendon | Olean | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 882 |
1,113 |
13,738Highest |
666Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.1±5.5 42% above U.S. |
53.4±10.5 37% above U.S. |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
59.2±4.4Highest 52% above U.S. |
| Grafton and Jamaica are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.7%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 30%±8.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Grafton and Jamaica are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±3.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.1%±5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Grafton and Jamaica are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,219±$19k about the U.S. average |
$100,524±$23kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$76,111±$7k 6% below U.S. |
| Mendon and Jamaica are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $347,800±$50k 5% above U.S. |
$357,000±$44kHighest 7% above U.S. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$343,200±$85k 3% above U.S. |
| Mendon and Jamaica are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $870±$464 38% below U.S. |
$1,230±$651 13% below U.S. |
$794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$1,288±$174Highest 9% below U.S. |
| Grafton and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,773 53% above U.S. |
$5,342Highest 71% above U.S. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,843 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 7.1%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.8%±69.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
17 min 36% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.2%±12.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jamaica and Mendon 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 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | — | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Athens Grafton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.2 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.