What stands out worked out from the figures below

Olean has the highest household income ($75k).

Dix has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Olean	Dix
People
Population	1,664Lowest	3,660Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.2%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-2.8%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	53.8±5.5Highest 35% above NY	50.1±2.8Lowest 26% above NY
	Olean and Dix are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.6%±4.5Highest NY: 20.5%	13.7%±3.4Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Olean and Dix are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.2%±5.1Lowest NY: 17.9%	27.9%±5Highest NY: 17.9%
	Dix 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%Highest NY: 40.2%	17.4%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±1.5Lowest NY: 7%	2.9%±1.9Highest NY: 7%
	Dix 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 13% below NY	$53,668±$8kLowest 38% below NY
	Olean and Dix 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	$165,000±$14kHighest 61% below NY
	Dix and Olean 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	$718±$172Highest 56% below NY
	Dix and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,027Highest 39% below NY	$3,141Lowest 52% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.1%±25.5Highest NY: 52.1%	44.5%±13.6Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Olean and Dix 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%	12.2%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.9%Highest NY: 54.3%	66.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Highest 3 yrs newer than NY	1952Lowest 7 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 43% below NY	20 minHighest 39% below NY
Work from home	5.8%±4.7Highest NY: 14.9%	4.3%±2.3Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Olean and Dix 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	#391 of 484 in NY
School district	—	WATKINS GLEN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	—	WATKINS GLEN CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	10.9
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.