Compare towns
Massena vs Olean vs Putney
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).
Olean has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Putney has the most expensive homes ($300k median).
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 | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,238 |
13,738Highest |
2,622Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±4.7Highest 10% above U.S. |
39±2.6 about the U.S. average |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| 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% |
23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest 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% |
19.1%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Massena 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $51,458±$7k 36% below U.S. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$79,706±$18kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $94,400±$15k 72% below U.S. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$300,000±$44kHighest 10% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $722±$44 49% below U.S. |
$794±$52Highest 44% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
| Olean and Massena 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. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$5,313Highest 70% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.8%±11.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Massena and Putney 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% |
16%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minHighest 32% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
18 minHighest 32% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 5.2%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Putney 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 | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | — | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.