Compare towns

Massena vs Olean vs Windham

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).
Windham has the most people working from home (20.5%).

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.

MeasureMassenaOleanWindham
People
Population
10,238Highest
1,664
594Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-7.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
42.6±4.7Lowest
10% above U.S.
53.8±5.5Highest
38% above U.S.
44.2±7.4
14% above U.S.
Olean and Windham 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%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
17.5%±7.9
U.S.: 22%
Massena and Windham 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%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
23.2%±8.1
U.S.: 17.2%
Olean and Windham 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%
48.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.9%±1.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.5%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
0.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Massena 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±$7kLowest
36% below U.S.
$74,583±$20k
8% below U.S.
$94,500±$12kHighest
17% above U.S.
Windham and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$94,400±$15kLowest
72% below U.S.
$158,600±$17k
52% below U.S.
$353,900±$20kHighest
6% 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.
$5,951Highest
91% 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%
41.2%±94Lowest
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%
9.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
55.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
77.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
82.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1954Lowest
26 yrs older than U.S.
1962
18 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
18 minLowest
32% below U.S.
19 min
30% below U.S.
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
5.2%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
5.8%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
20.5%±5.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #337 of 484 in NY —
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.