Compare towns
Mohawk vs Olean vs Oswego vs Herkimer
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mohawk has the highest household income ($73k).
Olean has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.6%).
Oswego has the youngest population (median age 35.7).
Herkimer has the most expensive homes ($133k 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 | Mohawk | Olean | Oswego | Herkimer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,520Lowest |
13,738 |
17,033Highest |
7,566 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.6%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-3.6%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-6.7% NY: +4.2% |
-6.6% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 48.5±4.8Highest 22% above NY |
39±2.6 about the NY average |
35.7±1.6Lowest 10% below NY |
45.4±3.4 14% above NY |
| Mohawk and Herkimer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±5.2 NY: 20.5% |
23.5%±2.9Highest NY: 20.5% |
21.9%±2.6 NY: 20.5% |
14.6%±3.8Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Olean and Oswego are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22%±6.1Highest NY: 17.9% |
19.1%±2.5 NY: 17.9% |
18.3%±2.1Lowest NY: 17.9% |
20.7%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
| Mohawk and Herkimer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.5% NY: 40.2% |
29.9%Highest NY: 40.2% |
26.1% NY: 40.2% |
15.9%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.5Lowest NY: 7% |
3.6%±1.1 NY: 7% |
10.1%±2Highest NY: 7% |
8.4%±2.2 NY: 7% |
| Oswego and Herkimer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,813±$19kHighest 15% below NY |
$51,261±$7k 40% below NY |
$53,172±$4k 38% below NY |
$48,529±$16kLowest 44% below NY |
| Mohawk and Oswego are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $124,600±$28k 71% below NY |
$86,100±$6kLowest 80% below NY |
$120,600±$7k 72% below NY |
$133,200±$29kHighest 69% below NY |
| Herkimer and Mohawk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $705±$34Lowest 57% below NY |
$794±$52 51% below NY |
$1,109±$72Highest 32% below NY |
$821±$82 49% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,380 49% below NY |
$3,130Lowest 52% below NY |
$3,362 49% below NY |
$3,607Highest 45% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.3%±11.9Lowest NY: 52.1% |
52%±9.1 NY: 52.1% |
60.4%±7.4Highest NY: 52.1% |
48.7%±16.7 NY: 52.1% |
| Oswego and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.1%Lowest NY: 14% |
26.7%Highest NY: 14% |
20.6% NY: 14% |
26.4% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.7%Highest NY: 54.3% |
55.1% NY: 54.3% |
50.2%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
52.6% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938 21 yrs older than NY |
1938 21 yrs older than NY |
1938 21 yrs older than NY |
1938 21 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minHighest 30% below NY |
14 minLowest 56% below NY |
19 min 43% below NY |
20 min 38% below NY |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
8.6%±2.9 NY: 14.9% |
8.4%±6.8Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Mohawk and Oswego 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 | — |
| High school in town | — | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | OSWEGO HIGH SCHOOL | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2Lowest |
12.5Highest |
— |
| 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.