Compare towns
Johnson City vs Union vs Olean
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%).
Union has the most expensive homes ($150k median).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k 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 | Union | Olean |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,940 |
55,078Highest |
13,738Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-0.4% NY: +4.2% |
-3.6%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 40.7±3.4 about the NY average |
41.4±1.2Highest 4% above NY |
39±2.6Lowest about the NY average |
| Union 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% |
19%±1.3 NY: 20.5% |
23.5%±2.9Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Age 65+ | 22.4%±2.6Highest NY: 17.9% |
21.4%±1.3 NY: 17.9% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Johnson City and Union 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 NY: 40.2% |
33%Highest NY: 40.2% |
29.9% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9%±2.2Highest NY: 7% |
6.1%±0.9 NY: 7% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest NY: 7% |
| Johnson City and Union 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 35% below NY |
$61,713±$2kHighest 28% below NY |
$51,261±$7kLowest 40% below NY |
| Union 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 72% below NY |
$149,900±$5kHighest 65% below NY |
$86,100±$6kLowest 80% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,031±$66Highest 36% below NY |
$936±$37 42% below NY |
$794±$52Lowest 51% below NY |
| Johnson City and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,982 40% below NY |
$4,200Highest 36% below NY |
$3,130Lowest 52% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.8%±10.9Highest NY: 52.1% |
49.2%±5.6Lowest NY: 52.1% |
52%±9.1 NY: 52.1% |
| 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% NY: 14% |
16.2%Lowest NY: 14% |
26.7%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.3%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
58.9%Highest NY: 54.3% |
55.1% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1949 10 yrs older than NY |
1955Highest 4 yrs older than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 49% below NY |
18 minHighest 46% below NY |
14 minLowest 56% below NY |
| Work from home | 9.7%±3.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
9%±1.5 NY: 14.9% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Johnson City and Union 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 | — | #199 of 484 in NY | #337 of 484 in NY |
| School district | — | UNION-ENDICOTT CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · JOHNSON CITY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | UNION-ENDICOTT HIGH SCHOOL | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Lowest |
12.2Highest |
| 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.