What stands out worked out from the figures below

Meredith has the most expensive homes ($231k median).

Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Meredith	Olean
People
Population	1,467Lowest	13,738Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.9%Highest NY: +4.2%	-3.6%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	54.3±4.6Highest 36% above NY	39±2.6Lowest about the NY average
Kids under 18	17%±4.3Lowest NY: 20.5%	23.5%±2.9Highest NY: 20.5%
	Olean and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	30.8%±4Highest NY: 17.9%	19.1%±2.5Lowest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	33.8%Highest NY: 40.2%	29.9%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.4%±0.9Lowest NY: 7%	3.6%±1.1Highest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$85,938±$16kHighest about the NY average	$51,261±$7kLowest 40% below NY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$230,600±$24kHighest 46% below NY	$86,100±$6kLowest 80% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$794±$175 51% below NY	$794±$52 51% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,630Highest 45% below NY	$3,130Lowest 52% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.1%±53.6Highest NY: 52.1%	52%±9.1Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Meredith and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.4%Lowest NY: 14%	26.7%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.2%Highest NY: 54.3%	55.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest about the NY average	14 minLowest 56% below NY
Work from home	10.1%±4.3Highest NY: 14.9%	8.4%±2.6Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Meredith 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
School district	—	OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	—	OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	12.2
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

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.