What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lincoln has the most expensive homes ($365k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Lincoln	Olean
People
Population	1,394Lowest	13,738Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.7±3.6Highest 17% above U.S.	39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average
Kids under 18	15.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	22.3%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Lincoln and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	43.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.6%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Olean and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$96,667±$18kHighest 20% above U.S.	$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$365,200±$30kHighest 10% above U.S.	$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$870±$47Highest 38% below U.S.	$794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S.
	Lincoln and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,100Highest 96% above U.S.	$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.1%±25.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	52%±9.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Olean and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 12% above U.S.	14 minLowest 45% below U.S.
Work from home	18.8%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#337 of 484 in NY
School district	Lincoln Town School District	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

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.