Compare towns
Johnsburg vs Olean vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Johnsburg has the most people working from home (16.7%).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Chester has the most expensive homes ($306k 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 | Johnsburg | Olean | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,786Lowest |
13,738Highest |
3,074 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.5%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-3.6%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-8% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 56.2±5.8Highest 41% above NY |
39±2.6Lowest about the NY average |
54.1±6.7 36% above NY |
| Johnsburg and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.1Lowest NY: 20.5% |
23.5%±2.9Highest NY: 20.5% |
15.1%±4.9 NY: 20.5% |
| Age 65+ | 29.7%±4.5 NY: 17.9% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest NY: 17.9% |
32.4%±5.3Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Chester and Johnsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
29.9%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
36.5% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.8 NY: 7% |
3.6%±1.1Highest NY: 7% |
1.5%±1.5Lowest NY: 7% |
| Olean and Johnsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $60,987±$8k 29% below NY |
$51,261±$7kLowest 40% below NY |
$84,623±$20kHighest about the NY average |
| Chester and Johnsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $215,600±$41k 49% below NY |
$86,100±$6kLowest 80% below NY |
$306,400±$38kHighest 28% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $942±$94Highest 42% below NY |
$794±$52Lowest 51% below NY |
$868±$163 46% below NY |
| Johnsburg and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,973 55% below NY |
$3,130Highest 52% below NY |
$2,924Lowest 56% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.5%±19.1 NY: 52.1% |
52%±9.1Highest NY: 52.1% |
25.6%±27.3Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Olean and Johnsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.5% NY: 14% |
26.7%Highest NY: 14% |
6.6%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% NY: 54.3% |
55.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
85.5%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 19 yrs newer than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1979Highest 20 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 21% below NY |
14 minLowest 56% below NY |
24 min 26% below NY |
| Work from home | 16.7%±16.8Highest NY: 14.9% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
11.2%±5.6 NY: 14.9% |
| Johnsburg and Chester 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 | #307 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 | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.