Compare towns
Leicester vs Olean vs Whitingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Leicester has the most people working from home (12.7%).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Whitingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1%).
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 | Leicester | Olean | Whitingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,026Lowest |
13,738Highest |
1,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.8±3.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
46.4±7.1 19% above U.S. |
| Leicester and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.9%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Olean and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±6.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.1%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Whitingham and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Olean and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,417±$30k 13% below U.S. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$70,625±$11kHighest 13% below U.S. |
| Whitingham and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $309,700±$107kHighest 7% below U.S. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$262,300±$30k 21% below U.S. |
| Leicester and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,098±$300Highest 22% below U.S. |
$794±$52 44% below U.S. |
$673±$150Lowest 52% below U.S. |
| Leicester and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,822 23% above U.S. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$5,055Highest 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±40.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.7%±47.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whitingham and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 7% above U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.7%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Leicester and Whitingham 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 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| High school in town | — | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | Twin Valley Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2Highest |
7.8Lowest |
| 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.