Compare towns
Massena vs Olean vs Westminster vs Dunkirk
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).
Westminster has the most expensive homes ($314k median).
Dunkirk has the oldest population (median age 43.7).
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 | Westminster | Dunkirk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,238 |
13,738Highest |
497Lowest |
12,549 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +1.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±4.7 10% above U.S. |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.3±11.5 11% above U.S. |
43.7±3.1Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Dunkirk and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
28.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Westminster 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±11.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Massena and Westminster 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% |
45.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
16.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dunkirk 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±$7k 36% below U.S. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$81,000±$22kHighest about the U.S. average |
$53,299±$6k 34% below U.S. |
| Westminster and Dunkirk 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. |
$313,600±$39kHighest 6% below U.S. |
$94,700±$6k 72% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $722±$44Lowest 49% below U.S. |
$794±$52 44% below U.S. |
$749±$315 47% below U.S. |
$866±$81Highest 39% below U.S. |
| Dunkirk and Olean 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. |
$3,130 about the U.S. average |
$4,480Highest 44% above U.S. |
$2,352Lowest 25% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.8%±11.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.6%±7.7 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
24.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Highest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1941 39 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 32% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 13% above U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.1%±15.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Westminster 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 | #53 of 70 in VT | #465 of 484 in NY |
| School district | — | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | DUNKIRK CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — | DUNKIRK SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2Highest |
— | 9.7Lowest |
| 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.