Compare towns

Norwich vs Olean vs Olean

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Norwich has the most expensive homes ($638k median).
Olean has the oldest population (median age 53.8).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k 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.

MeasureNorwichOleanOlean
People
Population
3,640
1,664Lowest
13,738Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.8±3.2
5% above U.S.
53.8±5.5Highest
38% above U.S.
39±2.6Lowest
about the U.S. average
Kids under 18
24%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.6%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.5%±2.9
U.S.: 22%
Norwich and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
16%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
25.2%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.1%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
Olean and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
81%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
23.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
29.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.8%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.5%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.6%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
Norwich and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$140,313±$12kHighest
74% above U.S.
$74,583±$20k
8% below U.S.
$51,261±$7kLowest
37% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$637,500±$76kHighest
92% above U.S.
$158,600±$17k
52% below U.S.
$86,100±$6kLowest
74% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,460±$322Highest
3% above U.S.
$666±$334Lowest
53% below U.S.
$794±$52
44% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$4,027
29% above U.S.
$3,130Lowest
about the U.S. average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
30.7%±19.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
57.1%±25.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
52%±9.1
U.S.: 51.1%
Olean and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
16.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
26.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
77.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
55.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1962
18 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minHighest
28% below U.S.
19 min
30% below U.S.
14 minLowest
45% below U.S.
Work from home
21%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
5.8%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
8.4%±2.6
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #1 of 70 in VT #337 of 484 in NY #337 of 484 in NY
School district Norwich School District — OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town None 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

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.