Compare towns
Meredith vs Olean vs Kortright vs Lincoln
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.9%).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Kortright has the most people working from home (13%).
Lincoln has the highest household income ($96k).
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 | Meredith | Olean | Kortright | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,467Lowest |
13,738Highest |
1,627 |
1,749 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-3.6% NY: +4.2% |
-7.8% NY: +4.2% |
-10.4%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 54.3±4.6Highest 36% above NY |
39±2.6Lowest about the NY average |
53.4±5.2 34% above NY |
53.6±2.3 35% above NY |
| Meredith and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±4.3 NY: 20.5% |
23.5%±2.9Highest NY: 20.5% |
13.4%±1.6Lowest NY: 20.5% |
15.3%±2.5 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% |
22.4%±3.5 NY: 17.9% |
29.4%±3.8 NY: 17.9% |
| Meredith and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.8% NY: 40.2% |
29.9% NY: 40.2% |
29%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
34.4%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.9Lowest NY: 7% |
3.6%±1.1 NY: 7% |
5.2%±5Highest NY: 7% |
4.4%±2 NY: 7% |
| Kortright and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,938±$16k about the NY average |
$51,261±$7kLowest 40% below NY |
$80,729±$22k 6% below NY |
$96,100±$12kHighest 12% above NY |
| Lincoln and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $230,600±$24kHighest 46% below NY |
$86,100±$6kLowest 80% below NY |
$217,000±$17k 49% below NY |
$202,100±$25k 52% below NY |
| Meredith and Kortright are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$175Lowest 51% below NY |
$794±$52Lowest 51% below NY |
$831±$67 49% below NY |
$1,196±$309Highest 26% below NY |
| Lincoln and Kortright are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,630 45% below NY |
$3,130 52% below NY |
$2,945Lowest 55% below NY |
$3,800Highest 42% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.1%±53.6Highest NY: 52.1% |
52%±9.1 NY: 52.1% |
15.6%±74.2Lowest NY: 52.1% |
47.2%±65 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% NY: 14% |
26.7%Highest NY: 14% |
8.2% NY: 14% |
6.9%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.2% NY: 54.3% |
55.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
87.6% NY: 54.3% |
93.8%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 17 yrs newer than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1981Highest 22 yrs newer than NY |
1980 21 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest about the NY average |
14 minLowest 56% below NY |
24 min 26% below NY |
27 min 18% below NY |
| Work from home | 10.1%±4.3 NY: 14.9% |
8.4%±2.6 NY: 14.9% |
13%±4.7Highest NY: 14.9% |
7.4%±2.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Kortright and Meredith 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 | 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.