Compare towns
Mendon vs Olean vs Oswego vs Jamaica
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Oswego has the most renters (49.8% rent).
Jamaica has the most homeowners (96.9%).
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 | Oswego | Jamaica |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,113 |
13,738 |
17,033Highest |
882Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.4±10.5 37% above U.S. |
39±2.6 about the U.S. average |
35.7±1.6Lowest 8% below U.S. |
55.1±5.5Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Jamaica 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% |
21.9%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Olean and Oswego 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%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30%±8.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jamaica 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±3.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,524±$23kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$53,172±$4k 34% below U.S. |
$79,219±$19k about the U.S. average |
| Mendon and Jamaica are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $357,000±$44kHighest 7% above U.S. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$120,600±$7k 64% below U.S. |
$347,800±$50k 5% above U.S. |
| Mendon and Jamaica are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,230±$651Highest 13% below U.S. |
$794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$1,109±$72 22% below U.S. |
$870±$464 38% below U.S. |
| Mendon and Oswego are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,342Highest 71% above U.S. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,362 8% above U.S. |
$4,773 53% 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% |
60.4%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
7.1%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Oswego 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% |
20.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
50.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 36% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
19 min 30% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.5%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.2%±12.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jamaica and Mendon 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 | #285 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | — | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | OSWEGO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | — | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | OSWEGO HIGH SCHOOL | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2Lowest |
12.5Highest |
— |
| 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.