Compare towns
Jay vs Olean vs Ira
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Olean has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Ira has the most expensive homes ($273k median).
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 | Jay | Olean | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471 |
13,738Highest |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5 34% above U.S. |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
54.1±5.5Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Ira and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.2%±7.3 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Olean and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.9%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Olean and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,792±$25kHighest 7% below U.S. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$71,827±$5k 11% below U.S. |
| Jay and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,200±$45k 30% below U.S. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$272,900±$18kHighest 18% below U.S. |
| Ira and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$942±$52Highest 33% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 15% above U.S. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,146Highest 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Olean and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #337 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | 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.