Compare towns
Massena vs Olean vs Smyrna
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Massena has the most expensive homes ($94k median).
Olean has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Smyrna has the most homeowners (88.8%).
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 | Smyrna |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,238 |
13,738Highest |
1,392Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.2%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-3.6% NY: +4.2% |
-3.4%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 42.6±4.7 7% above NY |
39±2.6Lowest about the NY average |
43.4±7.4Highest 9% above NY |
| Smyrna and Massena are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±3.4Lowest NY: 20.5% |
23.5%±2.9 NY: 20.5% |
26.3%±5.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Smyrna and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±3.3Highest NY: 17.9% |
19.1%±2.5 NY: 17.9% |
15.8%±5Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| 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% NY: 40.2% |
29.9%Highest NY: 40.2% |
9.6%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.4 NY: 7% |
3.6%±1.1Highest NY: 7% |
1.2%±1.5Lowest NY: 7% |
| 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 40% below NY |
$51,261±$7kLowest 40% below NY |
$59,408±$10kHighest 31% below NY |
| Smyrna and Massena are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $94,400±$15kHighest 78% below NY |
$86,100±$6kLowest 80% below NY |
$89,500±$10k 79% below NY |
| Massena and Smyrna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $722±$44Lowest 55% below NY |
$794±$52 51% below NY |
$888±$384Highest 45% below NY |
| Smyrna and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,218Highest 51% below NY |
$3,130 52% below NY |
$2,056Lowest 69% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.8%±11.4 NY: 52.1% |
52%±9.1Lowest NY: 52.1% |
67.7%±84.9Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Smyrna and Massena are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 24.3% NY: 14% |
26.7%Highest NY: 14% |
14.3%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.4% NY: 54.3% |
55.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
88.8%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954 5 yrs older than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 45% below NY |
14 minLowest 56% below NY |
22 minHighest 33% below NY |
| Work from home | 5.2%±2.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
8.4%±2.6 NY: 14.9% |
9.5%±5.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Smyrna 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 | — | 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 |
NY 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.