Compare towns
Johnsburg vs Olean vs Thurman vs Willsboro
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 oldest population (median age 56.2).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Thurman has the most people working from home (19%).
Willsboro has the highest household income ($70k).
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 | Thurman | Willsboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,786 |
13,738Highest |
977Lowest |
1,903 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.5%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-3.6%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-10.2% NY: +4.2% |
-5.9% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 56.2±5.8Highest 41% above NY |
39±2.6Lowest about the NY average |
52.7±3.8 32% above NY |
55±4.5 38% above NY |
| Johnsburg and Willsboro 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% |
16.8%±4 NY: 20.5% |
15.4%±4.2 NY: 20.5% |
| Olean and Thurman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.7%±4.5Highest NY: 17.9% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest NY: 17.9% |
28.8%±3.7 NY: 17.9% |
28.1%±4.3 NY: 17.9% |
| Johnsburg and Thurman 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% NY: 40.2% |
24.1%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
32% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.8 NY: 7% |
3.6%±1.1Highest NY: 7% |
1.7%±2.5 NY: 7% |
1.2%±1.3Lowest 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 |
$58,750±$14k 32% below NY |
$69,766±$26kHighest 19% below NY |
| Willsboro 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 |
$197,400±$43k 53% below NY |
$237,900±$48kHighest 44% below NY |
| Willsboro and Johnsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $942±$94 42% below NY |
$794±$52 51% below NY |
$2,175±$599Highest 34% above NY |
$720±$46Lowest 56% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,973 55% below NY |
$3,130Highest 52% below NY |
$2,368Lowest 64% below NY |
$2,914 56% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.5%±19.1 NY: 52.1% |
52%±9.1 NY: 52.1% |
23.1%±77.8Lowest NY: 52.1% |
61.1%±35.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Willsboro and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.5%Lowest NY: 14% |
26.7%Highest NY: 14% |
19.2% NY: 14% |
12.1% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% NY: 54.3% |
55.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
92.1%Highest NY: 54.3% |
84.5% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 19 yrs newer than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1985Highest 26 yrs newer than NY |
1957 2 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 21% below NY |
14 minLowest 56% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
24 min 27% below NY |
| Work from home | 16.7%±16.8 NY: 14.9% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
19%±8.1Highest NY: 14.9% |
12%±9.6 NY: 14.9% |
| Thurman and Johnsburg 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 | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.