Compare towns
Jamaica vs Olean vs Mendon
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%).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
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 | Olean | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 882Lowest |
13,738Highest |
1,113 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.1±5.5Highest 42% above U.S. |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
53.4±10.5 37% above U.S. |
| Jamaica and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.7%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 30%±8.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jamaica and Mendon 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% |
29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Jamaica and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,219±$19k about the U.S. average |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$100,524±$23kHighest 25% above 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. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$357,000±$44kHighest 7% 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. |
$794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$1,230±$651Highest 13% below U.S. |
| Mendon and Jamaica 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. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$5,342Highest 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 7.1%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Olean 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% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minHighest 15% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
17 min 36% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.2%±12.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±8.9 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 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.