Compare towns

Mount Holly vs Olean vs Oswego

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mount Holly has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12%).
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.

MeasureMount HollyOleanOswego
People
Population
1,415Lowest
13,738
17,033Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+12%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
-6.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
53.5±8.2Highest
38% above U.S.
39±2.6
about the U.S. average
35.7±1.6Lowest
8% below U.S.
Kids under 18
21.2%±5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.5%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
21.9%±2.6
U.S.: 22%
Olean and Oswego are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
28%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.1%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
18.3%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
41.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
29.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
26.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.5%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.6%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
10.1%±2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$78,015±$19kHighest
3% below U.S.
$51,261±$7kLowest
37% below U.S.
$53,172±$4k
34% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$296,900±$40kHighest
11% below U.S.
$86,100±$6kLowest
74% below U.S.
$120,600±$7k
64% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,534±$1kHighest
9% above U.S.
$794±$52Lowest
44% below U.S.
$1,109±$72
22% below U.S.
Mount Holly and Oswego are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,926Highest
26% above U.S.
$3,130Lowest
about the U.S. average
$3,362
8% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
65.9%±65.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
52%±9.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
60.4%±7.4
U.S.: 51.1%
Mount Holly and Oswego are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
26.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
20.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.2%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
55.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
50.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
14 minLowest
45% below U.S.
19 min
30% below U.S.
Work from home
12.2%±6.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
8.4%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
8.6%±2.9
U.S.: 15.1%
Mount Holly 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 Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT OSWEGO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town None 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

U.S. 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.