Compare towns
Mendon vs Olean vs Mount Tabor vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mendon has the most people working from home (22.5%).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Mount Tabor has the oldest population (median age 57.8).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k 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 | Mendon | Olean | Mount Tabor | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,113 |
13,738Highest |
304Lowest |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.4±10.5 37% above U.S. |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
57.8±10.6Highest 49% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
| Mount Tabor and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.2%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Olean and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
42.4%±18.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Mount Tabor and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,524±$23k 25% above U.S. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
— | $110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $357,000±$44k 7% above U.S. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$420,500±$76k 26% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Mount Tabor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,230±$651 13% below U.S. |
$794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$2,143±$367Highest 52% above U.S. |
$1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
| Mount Tabor and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,342 71% above U.S. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$5,233 68% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1946 34 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 36% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
46 minHighest 72% above U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.5%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.4%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mendon and Strafford 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 | — | Strafford School District |
| 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 | 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.