Compare towns
Olean vs Chenango vs Allegany
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Olean has the oldest population (median age 53.8).
Chenango has the most kids (22.7% under 18).
Allegany has the youngest population (median age 37.4).
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 | Chenango | Allegany |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,664Lowest |
10,787Highest |
7,410 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.2% NY: +4.2% |
-2.6%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-6.4%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 53.8±5.5Highest 35% above NY |
41±2.8 3% above NY |
37.4±4.1Lowest 6% below NY |
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±4.5 NY: 20.5% |
22.7%±3Highest NY: 20.5% |
15.1%±2.5Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Chenango and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±5.1Highest NY: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.6 NY: 17.9% |
20.5%±2.7Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Olean and Chenango 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 NY: 40.2% |
35.2%Highest NY: 40.2% |
34.2% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.5Lowest NY: 7% |
4.8%±2 NY: 7% |
23.4%±1.7Highest NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,583±$20k 13% below NY |
$86,646±$9kHighest about the NY average |
$72,500±$15kLowest 16% below NY |
| Chenango and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $158,600±$17kLowest 63% below NY |
$172,000±$9kHighest 59% below NY |
$169,400±$13k 60% below NY |
| Chenango and Allegany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $666±$334Lowest 59% below NY |
$1,038±$97Highest 36% below NY |
$728±$56 55% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,027Highest 39% below NY |
$3,700Lowest 44% below NY |
$3,986 39% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±25.5Highest NY: 52.1% |
41.7%±8.7Lowest NY: 52.1% |
48.6%±7.6 NY: 52.1% |
| Olean and Allegany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.3%Highest NY: 14% |
9.1%Lowest NY: 14% |
15% NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.9%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
85.3%Highest NY: 54.3% |
80.3% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 3 yrs newer than NY |
1964 5 yrs newer than NY |
1971Highest 12 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 43% below NY |
24 minHighest 27% below NY |
20 min 40% below NY |
| Work from home | 5.8%±4.7Lowest NY: 14.9% |
13.8%±3.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
9.7%±3.5 NY: 14.9% |
| Chenango and Allegany 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 | #233 of 484 in NY | #161 of 484 in NY |
| School district | — | CHENANGO FORKS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | ALLEGANY-LIMESTONE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | CHENANGO FORKS HIGH SCHOOL | ALLEGANY-LIMESTONE MIDDLE-HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
9.6Lowest |
| 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.