Compare towns
Lowell vs Montgomery vs Olean 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
Lowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.9%).
Montgomery has the most people working from home (16%).
Olean has the highest household income ($75k).
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 | Lowell | Montgomery | Olean | Olean |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,070 |
1,047Lowest |
1,664 |
13,738Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 32.9±6.5Lowest 15% below U.S. |
51.5±11.3 32% above U.S. |
53.8±5.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
39±2.6 about the U.S. average |
| Olean and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 30.7%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.5%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Lowell and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 12.3%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.9%±8.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Montgomery and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Olean and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $57,404±$15k 29% below U.S. |
$53,289±$24k 34% below U.S. |
$74,583±$20kHighest 8% below U.S. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Olean and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $183,400±$33k 45% below U.S. |
$323,200±$45kHighest about the U.S. average |
$158,600±$17k 52% below U.S. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $945±$46Highest 33% below U.S. |
$868±$209 39% below U.S. |
$666±$334Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$794±$52 44% below U.S. |
| Lowell and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,810Lowest 10% below U.S. |
$4,326Highest 39% above U.S. |
$4,027 29% above U.S. |
$3,130 about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.3%±92.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
76.6%±68Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±25.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Montgomery and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 55 minHighest 109% above U.S. |
37 min 41% above U.S. |
19 min 30% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.5%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Montgomery 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 | — | — | #337 of 484 in NY | #337 of 484 in NY |
| School district | Lowell School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | None 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 | 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.