Compare towns

Olean vs Brighton vs Olean vs Gerry

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 the highest household income ($75k).
Brighton has the most people working from home (12.4%).
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.

MeasureOleanBrightonOleanGerry
People
Population
1,664
1,167Lowest
13,738Highest
1,668
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
-5.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-6.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
53.8±5.5Highest
38% above U.S.
45.2±11.6
16% above U.S.
39±2.6Lowest
about the U.S. average
52.4±5.7
35% above U.S.
Olean and Gerry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.6%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.3%±5.7
U.S.: 22%
23.5%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
20.9%±3.9
U.S.: 22%
Olean and Gerry 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%
27.2%±4.6
U.S.: 17.2%
19.1%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
29.9%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Gerry and Brighton 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%
25.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
29.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
23.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.5%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.6%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.6%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
3.4%±2.3
U.S.: 6.4%
Brighton and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$74,583±$20kHighest
8% below U.S.
$47,375±$21kLowest
41% below U.S.
$51,261±$7k
37% below U.S.
$68,667±$12k
15% below U.S.
Olean and Gerry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$158,600±$17k
52% below U.S.
$163,900±$39kHighest
51% below U.S.
$86,100±$6kLowest
74% below U.S.
$119,200±$10k
64% below U.S.
Brighton and Olean 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.
$775±$33
45% below U.S.
$794±$52
44% below U.S.
$1,138±$260Highest
19% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,027Highest
29% above U.S.
$3,360
8% above U.S.
$3,130
about the U.S. average
$2,606Lowest
16% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.1%±25.5
U.S.: 51.1%
55%±17
U.S.: 51.1%
52%±9.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
61.2%±16.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Gerry and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
16.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
22%
U.S.: 12.5%
26.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
77.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
51.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
55.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
75.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1962
18 yrs older than U.S.
1967Highest
13 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1967Highest
13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 min
30% below U.S.
33 minHighest
25% above U.S.
14 minLowest
45% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
5.8%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.4%±8.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
8.4%±2.6
U.S.: 15.1%
6.2%±4.2
U.S.: 15.1%
Brighton and Olean 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 — #337 of 484 in NY —
School district — Brighton School District OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT CASSADAGA VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town — None in town OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL CASSADAGA VALLEY MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school — —
12.2Highest
8.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.