Compare towns
Massena vs Middlebury 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
Massena has the oldest population (median age 42.6).
Middlebury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
Olean has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Middlebury is a college town. 40.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Middlebury | Olean |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,238 |
7,220Lowest |
13,738Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±4.7Highest 10% above U.S. |
23.7±1.3Lowest 39% below U.S. |
39±2.6 about the U.S. average |
| Massena and Olean 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% |
8.5%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Olean and Massena are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Massena and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
40.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $51,458±$7k 36% below U.S. |
$86,250±$18kHighest 7% above U.S. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $94,400±$15k 72% below U.S. |
$417,400±$31kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $722±$44Lowest 49% below U.S. |
$1,201±$120Highest 15% below U.S. |
$794±$52 44% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,218 3% above U.S. |
$6,795Highest 118% above U.S. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.8%±11.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.6%±15.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Massena and Middlebury 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% |
15.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
56.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest 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. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minHighest 32% below U.S. |
15 min 45% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 5.2%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #17 of 70 in VT | #337 of 484 in NY |
| School district | — | — | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | — | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.2 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.