Compare towns
Johnson City vs Olean vs Massena
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Johnson City has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
Olean has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Massena has the oldest population (median age 42.6).
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 | Johnson City | Olean | Massena |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,940Highest |
13,738 |
10,238Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-3.6% NY: +4.2% |
-7.2%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 40.7±3.4 about the NY average |
39±2.6Lowest about the NY average |
42.6±4.7Highest 7% above NY |
| Massena and Johnson City are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.1%±2.6Lowest NY: 20.5% |
23.5%±2.9Highest NY: 20.5% |
19.4%±3.4 NY: 20.5% |
| Olean and Massena are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.4%±2.6Highest NY: 17.9% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest NY: 17.9% |
20.4%±3.3 NY: 17.9% |
| Johnson City and Massena are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.6% NY: 40.2% |
29.9%Highest NY: 40.2% |
25.1%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9%±2.2Highest NY: 7% |
3.6%±1.1 NY: 7% |
2.9%±1.4Lowest NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $56,283±$4kHighest 35% below NY |
$51,261±$7kLowest 40% below NY |
$51,458±$7k 40% below NY |
| Johnson City and Massena are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $117,100±$4kHighest 72% below NY |
$86,100±$6kLowest 80% below NY |
$94,400±$15k 78% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,031±$66Highest 36% below NY |
$794±$52 51% below NY |
$722±$44Lowest 55% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,982Highest 40% below NY |
$3,130Lowest 52% below NY |
$3,218 51% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.8%±10.9Highest NY: 52.1% |
52%±9.1Lowest NY: 52.1% |
57.8%±11.4Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Below poverty line | 19.6%Lowest NY: 14% |
26.7%Highest NY: 14% |
24.3% NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.3%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
55.1% NY: 54.3% |
55.4%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1949 10 yrs older than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1954Highest 5 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 49% below NY |
14 minLowest 56% below NY |
18 minHighest 45% below NY |
| Work from home | 9.7%±3.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
8.4%±2.6 NY: 14.9% |
5.2%±2.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Johnson City and Olean 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 |
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.