What stands out worked out from the figures below

Malone has the most expensive homes ($135k median).

Olean has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.6%).

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	Malone	Olean
People
Population	11,673Lowest	13,738Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-14.5%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-3.6%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	42±1.8Highest 6% above NY	39±2.6Lowest about the NY average
	Malone and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.5%±2.4Lowest NY: 20.5%	23.5%±2.9Highest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	15.6%±2.4Lowest NY: 17.9%	19.1%±2.5Highest NY: 17.9%
	Olean and Malone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	20.2%Lowest NY: 40.2%	29.9%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.1%±0.9Lowest NY: 7%	3.6%±1.1Highest NY: 7%
	Olean and Malone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$67,969±$12kHighest 21% below NY	$51,261±$7kLowest 40% below NY
	Malone and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$134,900±$21kHighest 68% below NY	$86,100±$6kLowest 80% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$852±$35Highest 47% below NY	$794±$52Lowest 51% below NY
	Malone and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,848Lowest 57% below NY	$3,130Highest 52% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	32%±12.9Lowest NY: 52.1%	52%±9.1Highest NY: 52.1%
	Olean and Malone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	17.5%Lowest NY: 14%	26.7%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	64.2%Highest NY: 54.3%	55.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1949Highest 10 yrs older than NY	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	15 minHighest 54% below NY	14 minLowest 56% below NY
Work from home	5.1%±2.5Lowest NY: 14.9%	8.4%±2.6Highest NY: 14.9%
	Olean and Malone 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	#444 of 484 in NY	#337 of 484 in NY
School district	MALONE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	FRANKLIN ACADEMY HIGH SCHOOL	OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	10.1Lowest	12.2Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.