What stands out worked out from the figures below

Olean has grown the fastest since 2010 (-4.2%).

Ellery has the most expensive homes ($236k 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.

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

Measure	Olean	Ellery
People
Population	1,664Lowest	4,073Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.2%Highest NY: +4.2%	-9%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	53.8±5.5Lowest 35% above NY	56.1±4.5Highest 41% above NY
	Ellery and Olean 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%	14.3%±3.8Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Olean and Ellery 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%	30.8%±6.6Highest NY: 17.9%
	Ellery 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 NY: 40.2%	40%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±1.5Lowest NY: 7%	4.4%±2.2Highest NY: 7%
	Ellery 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±$20kLowest 13% below NY	$86,833±$12kHighest about the NY average
	Ellery 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	$235,900±$29kHighest 44% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$666±$334Lowest 59% below NY	$845±$189Highest 48% below NY
	Ellery 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	$3,796Lowest 42% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.1%±25.5Highest NY: 52.1%	35.9%±16.8Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Olean and Ellery 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%	9.2%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.9%Lowest NY: 54.3%	89.5%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Lowest 3 yrs newer than NY	1967Highest 8 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 43% below NY	23 minHighest 29% below NY
Work from home	5.8%±4.7Highest NY: 14.9%	4.5%±2.4Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Olean and Ellery 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	#241 of 484 in NY
School district	—	BEMUS POINT CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	—	MAPLE GROVE JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	7.6
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.