Compare towns
Maine vs Olean vs Olean vs Chenango
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Maine has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Chenango has the most people working from home (13.8%).
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 | Maine | Olean | Olean | Chenango |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,089 |
1,664Lowest |
13,738Highest |
10,787 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9% NY: +4.2% |
-4.2%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-3.6% NY: +4.2% |
-2.6%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 57.1±10Highest 43% above NY |
53.8±5.5 35% above NY |
39±2.6Lowest about the NY average |
41±2.8 3% above NY |
| Maine and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.2%±4.6Lowest NY: 20.5% |
15.6%±4.5 NY: 20.5% |
23.5%±2.9Highest NY: 20.5% |
22.7%±3 NY: 20.5% |
| Olean and Chenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±8.7Highest NY: 17.9% |
25.2%±5.1 NY: 17.9% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest NY: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.6 NY: 17.9% |
| Maine and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28% NY: 40.2% |
23.3%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
29.9% NY: 40.2% |
35.2%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2 NY: 7% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest NY: 7% |
3.6%±1.1 NY: 7% |
4.8%±2Highest NY: 7% |
| Chenango and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,115±$19k 20% below NY |
$74,583±$20k 13% below NY |
$51,261±$7kLowest 40% below NY |
$86,646±$9kHighest about the NY average |
| Chenango and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $156,100±$44k 63% below NY |
$158,600±$17k 63% below NY |
$86,100±$6kLowest 80% below NY |
$172,000±$9kHighest 59% below NY |
| Chenango and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $939±$49 42% below NY |
$666±$334Lowest 59% below NY |
$794±$52 51% below NY |
$1,038±$97Highest 36% below NY |
| Chenango and Maine are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,828 42% below NY |
$4,027Highest 39% below NY |
$3,130Lowest 52% below NY |
$3,700 44% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.1%±14.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
57.1%±25.5Highest NY: 52.1% |
52%±9.1 NY: 52.1% |
41.7%±8.7 NY: 52.1% |
| Olean and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.6% NY: 14% |
16.3% NY: 14% |
26.7%Highest NY: 14% |
9.1%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.3%Highest NY: 54.3% |
77.9% NY: 54.3% |
55.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
85.3%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Highest 5 yrs newer than NY |
1962 3 yrs newer than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1964Highest 5 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 40% below NY |
19 min 43% below NY |
14 minLowest 56% below NY |
24 minHighest 27% below NY |
| Work from home | 10.6%±4.7 NY: 14.9% |
5.8%±4.7Lowest NY: 14.9% |
8.4%±2.6 NY: 14.9% |
13.8%±3.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Chenango and Maine 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 | #369 of 484 in NY | #337 of 484 in NY | #337 of 484 in NY | #233 of 484 in NY |
| School district | MAINE-ENDWELL CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | CHENANGO FORKS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | None in town | — | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | CHENANGO FORKS HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.2Highest |
11.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.