Compare towns
Olean vs Cornwall vs Mendon 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 the most affordable homes ($159k median).
Cornwall has the most expensive homes ($458k median).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
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 | Cornwall | Mendon | Esperance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,664 |
1,208 |
1,113Lowest |
1,794Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-13%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±5.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
50.4±4.6Lowest 30% above U.S. |
53.4±10.5 37% above U.S. |
51.9±5 33% above U.S. |
| Olean and Mendon 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% |
18.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Cornwall 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% |
25.7%±6.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Mendon and Cornwall 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% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Esperance and Cornwall 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. |
$114,583±$32kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$100,524±$23k 25% above U.S. |
$76,058±$11k 6% below U.S. |
| Cornwall and Mendon 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. |
$458,000±$49kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$357,000±$44k 7% above U.S. |
$196,200±$45k 41% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $666±$334Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$1,125±$206 20% below U.S. |
$1,230±$651Highest 13% below U.S. |
$1,075±$470 24% below U.S. |
| Mendon and Cornwall 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. |
$6,726Highest 116% above U.S. |
$5,342 71% above U.S. |
$4,005Lowest 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±25.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±65.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.8%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Cornwall 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% |
0.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 30% below U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 5.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.2%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Cornwall and Mendon 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 | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | — |
| 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.