Compare towns
Massena vs Mendon vs Olean vs Dunkirk
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Olean has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
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 | Massena | Mendon | Olean | Dunkirk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,238 |
1,113Lowest |
13,738Highest |
12,549 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±4.7 10% above U.S. |
53.4±10.5Highest 37% above U.S. |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.7±3.1 12% above U.S. |
| Mendon and Dunkirk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Olean and Dunkirk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
16.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dunkirk and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $51,458±$7k 36% below U.S. |
$100,524±$23kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$53,299±$6k 34% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $94,400±$15k 72% below U.S. |
$357,000±$44kHighest 7% above U.S. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$94,700±$6k 72% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $722±$44Lowest 49% below U.S. |
$1,230±$651Highest 13% below U.S. |
$794±$52 44% below U.S. |
$866±$81 39% below U.S. |
| Mendon and Dunkirk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,218 3% above U.S. |
$5,342Highest 71% above U.S. |
$3,130 about the U.S. average |
$2,352Lowest 25% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.8%±11.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.6%±7.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Massena are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 24.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
24.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1941 39 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 32% below U.S. |
17 min 36% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
19 minHighest 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #337 of 484 in NY | #465 of 484 in NY |
| School district | — | — | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | DUNKIRK CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | — | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | DUNKIRK SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.2Highest |
9.7Lowest |
| 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.