Compare towns
Johnson City vs Olean vs Waterville
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 the most people working from home (9.7%).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Waterville has the most expensive homes ($236k 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 | Johnson City | Olean | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,940Highest |
13,738 |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±3.4 5% above U.S. |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
49.1±8.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Waterville 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 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±8.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Olean and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Johnson City and Olean 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% |
32.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Johnson City and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $56,283±$4k 30% below U.S. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$71,250±$27kHighest 12% below U.S. |
| Waterville 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. |
$236,300±$15kHighest 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,031±$66 27% below U.S. |
$794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$1,110±$93Highest 21% below U.S. |
| Waterville and Johnson City 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 |
$3,957 27% 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% |
44.6%±27.2Lowest 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% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1949 31 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 38% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.7%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Johnson City and Waterville 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 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| 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.