Compare towns
Olean vs Benson vs Esperance
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Olean has grown the fastest since 2010 (-4.2%).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Esperance has the most renters (22.5% 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 | Olean | Benson | Esperance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,664 |
784Lowest |
1,794Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-13%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±5.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4Lowest 33% above U.S. |
51.9±5Lowest 33% above U.S. |
| Olean and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Benson and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Benson and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Esperance are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,583±$20kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$78,625±$8kHighest about the U.S. average |
$76,058±$11k 6% below U.S. |
| Benson and Esperance are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $158,600±$17kLowest 52% below U.S. |
$242,000±$26kHighest 27% below U.S. |
$196,200±$45k 41% below U.S. |
| Benson and Esperance are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $666±$334Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$1,113±$170Highest 21% below U.S. |
$1,075±$470 24% below U.S. |
| Benson and Esperance are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,027 29% above U.S. |
$4,125Highest 32% above U.S. |
$4,005Lowest 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±25.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.8%±15.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Olean and Esperance are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 5.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.2%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Benson and Esperance 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 | — | — |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| 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.