Compare towns
Maine vs Olean vs Chenango vs Moriah
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%).
Moriah has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.7%).
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 | Maine | Olean | Chenango | Moriah |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,089 |
13,738Highest |
10,787 |
4,483Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-3.6% NY: +4.2% |
-2.6% NY: +4.2% |
-1.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 57.1±10Highest 43% above NY |
39±2.6Lowest about the NY average |
41±2.8 3% above NY |
56.7±3 42% above NY |
| Maine and Moriah 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% |
23.5%±2.9Highest NY: 20.5% |
22.7%±3 NY: 20.5% |
15.4%±4.8 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% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest NY: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.6 NY: 17.9% |
33.4%±6.9Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28% NY: 40.2% |
29.9% NY: 40.2% |
35.2%Highest NY: 40.2% |
25.1%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2 NY: 7% |
3.6%±1.1 NY: 7% |
4.8%±2Highest NY: 7% |
1.6%±1.4Lowest 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 |
$51,261±$7kLowest 40% below NY |
$86,646±$9kHighest about the NY average |
$63,113±$6k 27% below NY |
| Chenango and Maine 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 |
$86,100±$6kLowest 80% below NY |
$172,000±$9kHighest 59% below NY |
$138,200±$9k 67% below NY |
| Chenango and Maine 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 |
$794±$52Lowest 51% below NY |
$1,038±$97Highest 36% below NY |
$832±$165 49% 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 | $3,828Highest 42% below NY |
$3,130 52% below NY |
$3,700 44% below NY |
$2,644Lowest 60% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.1%±14.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
52%±9.1Highest NY: 52.1% |
41.7%±8.7 NY: 52.1% |
51.2%±25.4 NY: 52.1% |
| Olean and Moriah are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.6% NY: 14% |
26.7%Highest NY: 14% |
9.1%Lowest NY: 14% |
14.5% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.3%Highest NY: 54.3% |
55.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
85.3%Highest NY: 54.3% |
80.9% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Highest 5 yrs newer than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1964Highest 5 yrs newer than NY |
1951 8 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 40% below NY |
14 minLowest 56% below NY |
24 min 27% below NY |
32 minHighest about the NY average |
| Work from home | 10.6%±4.7 NY: 14.9% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
13.8%±3.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
9.4%±6.3 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 | #233 of 484 in NY | #380 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 | MORIAH CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | None in town | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | CHENANGO FORKS HIGH SCHOOL | MORIAH JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2Highest |
11.1 |
8.6Lowest |
| 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.