What stands out worked out from the figures below

Olean has the shortest commute (19 min average).

Hamlin has the most people working from home (12.2%).

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	Hamlin
People
Population	1,664Lowest	8,652Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.2%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-3.5%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	53.8±5.5Highest 35% above NY	41.9±3.7Lowest 5% above NY
Kids under 18	15.6%±4.5Lowest NY: 20.5%	20.2%±3.5Highest NY: 20.5%
	Hamlin 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%	19.9%±3.2Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Olean and Hamlin 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%	27.3%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±1.5Lowest NY: 7%	3.9%±1.3Highest NY: 7%
	Hamlin 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	$83,510±$9kHighest about the NY average
	Hamlin 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	$166,200±$9kHighest 61% below NY
	Hamlin 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	$1,062±$137Highest 34% below NY
	Hamlin and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,027Lowest 39% below NY	$4,343Highest 34% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.1%±25.5Lowest NY: 52.1%	59.6%±13.6Highest NY: 52.1%
	Hamlin and Olean 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%	11.5%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.9%Lowest NY: 54.3%	89.3%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Lowest 3 yrs newer than NY	1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 43% below NY	28 minHighest 15% below NY
Work from home	5.8%±4.7Lowest NY: 14.9%	12.2%±4.2Highest NY: 14.9%
	Hamlin 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	—
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.