Compare towns
Moriah vs Olean vs Chenango
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 the oldest population (median age 56.7).
Olean has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Chenango has the most people working from home (13.8%).
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 | Chenango |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,483Lowest |
13,738Highest |
10,787 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-3.6%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-2.6% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 56.7±3Highest 42% above NY |
39±2.6Lowest about the NY average |
41±2.8 3% above NY |
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.8Lowest NY: 20.5% |
23.5%±2.9Highest NY: 20.5% |
22.7%±3 NY: 20.5% |
| Olean and Chenango 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% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest NY: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.6 NY: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.1%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
29.9% NY: 40.2% |
35.2%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±1.4Lowest NY: 7% |
3.6%±1.1 NY: 7% |
4.8%±2Highest NY: 7% |
| Chenango and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $63,113±$6k 27% below NY |
$51,261±$7kLowest 40% below NY |
$86,646±$9kHighest about the NY average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $138,200±$9k 67% below NY |
$86,100±$6kLowest 80% below NY |
$172,000±$9kHighest 59% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $832±$165 49% below NY |
$794±$52Lowest 51% below NY |
$1,038±$97Highest 36% below NY |
| Chenango and Moriah are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,644Lowest 60% below NY |
$3,130 52% below NY |
$3,700Highest 44% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±25.4 NY: 52.1% |
52%±9.1Highest NY: 52.1% |
41.7%±8.7Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Olean and Moriah are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.5% NY: 14% |
26.7%Highest NY: 14% |
9.1%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% NY: 54.3% |
55.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
85.3%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951 8 yrs older than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1964Highest 5 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest about the NY average |
14 minLowest 56% below NY |
24 min 27% below NY |
| Work from home | 9.4%±6.3 NY: 14.9% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
13.8%±3.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Chenango and Moriah 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 | #233 of 484 in NY |
| School district | MORIAH CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | CHENANGO FORKS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | MORIAH JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | CHENANGO FORKS HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.6Lowest |
12.2Highest |
11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.