Compare towns

Johnson City vs Olean vs Washington

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

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).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($218k 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.

MeasureJohnson CityOleanWashington
People
Population
14,940Highest
13,738
1,056Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.7±3.4
5% above U.S.
39±2.6Lowest
about the U.S. average
52.9±5.1Highest
36% above U.S.
Kids under 18
18.1%±2.6
U.S.: 22%
23.5%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.5%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Olean and Johnson City are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.4%±2.6
U.S.: 17.2%
19.1%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
24.3%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Washington and Johnson City are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
29.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
29.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
31%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
9%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.6%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
2.7%±2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$56,283±$4k
30% below U.S.
$51,261±$7kLowest
37% below U.S.
$66,103±$8kHighest
18% below U.S.
Washington and Johnson City are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$117,100±$4k
65% below U.S.
$86,100±$6kLowest
74% below U.S.
$217,700±$37kHighest
35% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,031±$66Highest
27% below U.S.
$794±$52Lowest
44% below U.S.
$996±$285
30% below U.S.
Johnson City and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,982Highest
28% above U.S.
$3,130Lowest
about the U.S. average
$3,485
12% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.8%±10.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
52%±9.1
U.S.: 51.1%
34.5%±63.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Johnson City and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
19.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
26.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
52.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
55.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
94.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1949
31 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1980Highest
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
17 min
38% below U.S.
14 minLowest
45% below U.S.
31 minHighest
16% above U.S.
Work from home
9.7%±3.4
U.S.: 15.1%
8.4%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.9%±5.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Washington and Johnson City 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 Echo Valley Community Union School District #67
High school in town — OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL None in town
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.