Compare towns

Massena vs Olean vs Panton vs Wright

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Olean has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Panton has the most people working from home (26.7%).
Wright has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.5%).

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.

MeasureMassenaOleanPantonWright
People
Population
10,238
13,738Highest
690Lowest
1,739
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-7.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.6±4.7
10% above U.S.
39±2.6Lowest
about the U.S. average
42.7±3.8
10% above U.S.
51.4±4.7Highest
32% above U.S.
Kids under 18
19.4%±3.4
U.S.: 22%
23.5%±2.9
U.S.: 22%
24.9%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.7%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Panton and Olean 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%
19.1%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
16.7%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.4%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Wright and Massena 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%
29.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
35.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
24.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.9%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
3.6%±1.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.3%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
2.1%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Olean and Massena 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.
$51,261±$7kLowest
37% below U.S.
$86,667±$10kHighest
7% above U.S.
$86,250±$13k
7% above U.S.
Panton and Wright are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$94,400±$15k
72% below U.S.
$86,100±$6kLowest
74% below U.S.
$438,000±$40kHighest
32% above U.S.
$242,000±$36k
27% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$722±$44Lowest
49% below U.S.
$794±$52
44% below U.S.
$1,410±$130Highest
about the U.S. average
$953±$79
33% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,218
3% above U.S.
$3,130Lowest
about the U.S. average
$6,695Highest
115% above U.S.
$5,279
69% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.8%±11.4
U.S.: 51.1%
52%±9.1
U.S.: 51.1%
61%±39Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
37.6%±16.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Panton 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%
26.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
55.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
55.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
83.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1954
26 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
1983Highest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
18 min
32% below U.S.
14 minLowest
45% below U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
33 minHighest
25% above U.S.
Work from home
5.2%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
8.4%±2.6
U.S.: 15.1%
26.7%±8.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
5.9%±2.8
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #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 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.