Compare towns

Massena vs Olean vs Throop vs Wright

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Olean has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Throop has the most homeowners (93.3%).
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.

MeasureMassenaOleanThroopWright
People
Population
10,238
13,738Highest
1,651Lowest
1,739
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-7.2%
NY: +4.2%
-3.6%
NY: +4.2%
-8%Lowest
NY: +4.2%
-1.5%Highest
NY: +4.2%
Median age
42.6±4.7
7% above NY
39±2.6Lowest
about the NY average
52.7±3.1Highest
32% above NY
51.4±4.7
29% above NY
Throop and Wright are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.4%±3.4
NY: 20.5%
23.5%±2.9Highest
NY: 20.5%
15.4%±3.5Lowest
NY: 20.5%
16.7%±3.1
NY: 20.5%
Olean and Massena are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.4%±3.3
NY: 17.9%
19.1%±2.5Lowest
NY: 17.9%
23.3%±2.6Highest
NY: 17.9%
21.4%±1.9
NY: 17.9%
Throop and Wright 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%
28.1%
NY: 40.2%
24.4%Lowest
NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.9%±1.4
NY: 7%
3.6%±1.1Highest
NY: 7%
3.1%±1.6
NY: 7%
2.1%±1.6Lowest
NY: 7%
Olean and Throop 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
$90,268±$15kHighest
5% above NY
$86,250±$13k
about the NY average
Throop 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
78% below NY
$86,100±$6kLowest
80% below NY
$185,900±$20k
56% below NY
$242,000±$36kHighest
43% below NY
Wright and Throop 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
$1,099±$88Highest
32% below NY
$953±$79
41% below NY
Throop and Wright are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,218
51% below NY
$3,130Lowest
52% below NY
$4,261
35% below NY
$5,279Highest
20% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.8%±11.4Highest
NY: 52.1%
52%±9.1
NY: 52.1%
51.4%±69.8
NY: 52.1%
37.6%±16.4Lowest
NY: 52.1%
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%
NY: 14%
26.7%Highest
NY: 14%
5.4%Lowest
NY: 14%
7%
NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
55.4%
NY: 54.3%
55.1%Lowest
NY: 54.3%
93.3%Highest
NY: 54.3%
80.6%
NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1954
5 yrs older than NY
1938Lowest
21 yrs older than NY
1964
5 yrs newer than NY
1983Highest
24 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
18 min
45% below NY
14 minLowest
56% below NY
26 min
19% below NY
33 minHighest
about the NY average
Work from home
5.2%±2.6Lowest
NY: 14.9%
8.4%±2.6Highest
NY: 14.9%
7.5%±3.3
NY: 14.9%
5.9%±2.8
NY: 14.9%
Olean and Throop 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
— —
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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.