Compare towns
Mendon vs Olean vs Washington 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Washington has the most homeowners (94.4%).
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 | Washington | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,113 |
13,738Highest |
1,056Lowest |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.4±10.5Highest 37% above U.S. |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
52.9±5.1 36% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
| Mendon and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±4.2 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%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Mendon and Washington 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% |
31% 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% |
2.7%±2Lowest 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. |
$66,103±$8k 18% 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. |
$217,700±$37k 35% below U.S. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Mendon 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. |
$996±$285 30% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
| Mendon and Strafford 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 |
$3,485 12% 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% |
34.5%±63.6Lowest 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4%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. |
1980Highest same as 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. |
31 minHighest 16% 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% |
14.9%±5.7 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 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | — | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | 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.