Compare towns
Massena vs Olean vs Ripton
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 most affordable homes ($94k median).
Olean has the oldest population (median age 53.8).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Massena | Olean | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,238Highest |
1,664 |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±4.7Lowest 10% above U.S. |
53.8±5.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
| Olean and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Massena and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $51,458±$7kLowest 36% below U.S. |
$74,583±$20k 8% below U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $94,400±$15kLowest 72% below U.S. |
$158,600±$17k 52% below U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $722±$44Highest 49% below U.S. |
$666±$334Lowest 53% below U.S. |
— |
| Massena and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,218Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$4,027 29% above U.S. |
$4,915Highest 58% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.8%±11.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±25.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Massena and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 24.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
19 min 30% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 5.2%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.8%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ripton and Olean 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 | — | #337 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | — | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.