Compare towns
Lake Luzerne vs Olean vs Franklin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lake Luzerne has the most expensive homes ($223k median).
Olean has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Franklin has the most people working from home (10.7%).
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 | Lake Luzerne | Olean | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,080Highest |
1,664Lowest |
2,359 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-4.2%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-5.1% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 52.5±11.7 32% above NY |
53.8±5.5Highest 35% above NY |
52.2±4.1Lowest 31% above NY |
| Olean and Lake Luzerne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±5.1Highest NY: 20.5% |
15.6%±4.5 NY: 20.5% |
13.6%±3Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Lake Luzerne and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.3%±7.2 NY: 17.9% |
25.2%±5.1Lowest NY: 17.9% |
30.8%±5.8Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Franklin and Lake Luzerne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25%Highest NY: 40.2% |
23.3%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
24.6% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.6%±2.6Highest NY: 7% |
2.5%±1.5 NY: 7% |
1.9%±1.3Lowest NY: 7% |
| Lake Luzerne and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $46,633±$7kLowest 46% below NY |
$74,583±$20kHighest 13% below NY |
$64,323±$6k 25% below NY |
| Olean and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $222,800±$11kHighest 47% below NY |
$158,600±$17kLowest 63% below NY |
$210,600±$23k 50% below NY |
| Lake Luzerne and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $951±$48Highest 41% below NY |
$666±$334Lowest 59% below NY |
$803±$129 50% below NY |
| Lake Luzerne and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,677Lowest 59% below NY |
$4,027Highest 39% below NY |
$3,332 49% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.1%±76.1 NY: 52.1% |
57.1%±25.5Highest NY: 52.1% |
32.9%±21.2Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Olean and Lake Luzerne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 33.4%Highest NY: 14% |
16.3% NY: 14% |
12.2%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6% NY: 54.3% |
77.9%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
83%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 8 yrs newer than NY |
1962Lowest 3 yrs newer than NY |
1971Highest 12 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 21% below NY |
19 minLowest 43% below NY |
27 minHighest 17% below NY |
| Work from home | 4.4%±2.8Lowest NY: 14.9% |
5.8%±4.7 NY: 14.9% |
10.7%±4.1Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Franklin 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 | #336 of 484 in NY | #337 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | HADLEY-LUZERNE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | — |
| High school in town | HADLEY-LUZERNE JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.4 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 5 photos → | 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.