Compare towns
Moriah vs Olean vs Olean vs Oswego
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Moriah has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.7%).
Olean has the highest household income ($75k).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Oswego has the most renters (49.8% rent).
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 | Moriah | Olean | Olean | Oswego |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,483 |
1,664Lowest |
13,738 |
17,033Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.2% NY: +4.2% |
-3.6% NY: +4.2% |
-6.7%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 56.7±3Highest 42% above NY |
53.8±5.5 35% above NY |
39±2.6 about the NY average |
35.7±1.6Lowest 10% below NY |
| Moriah and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.8Lowest NY: 20.5% |
15.6%±4.5 NY: 20.5% |
23.5%±2.9Highest NY: 20.5% |
21.9%±2.6 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+ | 33.4%±6.9Highest NY: 17.9% |
25.2%±5.1 NY: 17.9% |
19.1%±2.5 NY: 17.9% |
18.3%±2.1Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Moriah and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.1% NY: 40.2% |
23.3%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
29.9%Highest NY: 40.2% |
26.1% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±1.4Lowest NY: 7% |
2.5%±1.5 NY: 7% |
3.6%±1.1 NY: 7% |
10.1%±2Highest NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $63,113±$6k 27% below NY |
$74,583±$20kHighest 13% below NY |
$51,261±$7kLowest 40% below NY |
$53,172±$4k 38% below NY |
| Olean and Moriah are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $138,200±$9k 67% below NY |
$158,600±$17kHighest 63% below NY |
$86,100±$6kLowest 80% below NY |
$120,600±$7k 72% below NY |
| Olean and Moriah are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $832±$165 49% below NY |
$666±$334Lowest 59% below NY |
$794±$52 51% below NY |
$1,109±$72Highest 32% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,644Lowest 60% below NY |
$4,027Highest 39% below NY |
$3,130 52% below NY |
$3,362 49% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±25.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
57.1%±25.5 NY: 52.1% |
52%±9.1 NY: 52.1% |
60.4%±7.4Highest 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 | 14.5%Lowest NY: 14% |
16.3% NY: 14% |
26.7%Highest NY: 14% |
20.6% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Highest NY: 54.3% |
77.9% NY: 54.3% |
55.1% NY: 54.3% |
50.2%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951 8 yrs older than NY |
1962Highest 3 yrs newer than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest about the NY average |
19 min 43% below NY |
14 minLowest 56% below NY |
19 min 43% below NY |
| Work from home | 9.4%±6.3Highest NY: 14.9% |
5.8%±4.7Lowest NY: 14.9% |
8.4%±2.6 NY: 14.9% |
8.6%±2.9 NY: 14.9% |
| Moriah 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 | #380 of 484 in NY | #337 of 484 in NY | #337 of 484 in NY | #285 of 484 in NY |
| School district | MORIAH CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | OSWEGO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | MORIAH JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | OSWEGO HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.6Lowest |
— | 12.2 |
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.