Compare towns
Johnson City vs Waterville vs Olean
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%).
Waterville has the most expensive homes ($236k 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 | Waterville | Olean |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,940Highest |
680Lowest |
13,738 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±3.4 5% above U.S. |
49.1±8.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
| 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% |
20.4%±8.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±2.9Highest 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% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.5 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% |
32.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest 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. |
$71,250±$27kHighest 12% below U.S. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% 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. |
$236,300±$15kHighest 29% below U.S. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,031±$66 27% below U.S. |
$1,110±$93Highest 21% below U.S. |
$794±$52Lowest 44% 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. |
$3,957 27% above U.S. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.8%±10.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±27.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1 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% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1949 31 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 38% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.7%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest 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 | — | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | None 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 |
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.