What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Hancock has the most people working from home (7%).

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	Hancock
People
Population	1,664Lowest	2,769Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.2%Highest NY: +4.2%	-14.3%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	53.8±5.5Lowest 35% above NY	54.3±5.7Highest 36% above NY
	Hancock 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%	14.4%±3.6Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Olean and Hancock 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%	29.9%±5.7Highest NY: 17.9%
	Hancock 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%	22.4%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±1.5Lowest NY: 7%	3%±1.6Highest NY: 7%
	Hancock 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	$62,243±$11kLowest 28% below NY
	Olean and Hancock 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	$161,100±$8kHighest 62% below NY
	Hancock 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	$1,052±$172Highest 35% below NY
	Hancock 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	$2,584Lowest 61% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.1%±25.5Lowest NY: 52.1%	59%±13.1Highest NY: 52.1%
	Hancock 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%	13%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.9%Highest NY: 54.3%	76.4%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Highest 3 yrs newer than NY	1960Lowest 1 yr newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 43% below NY	30 minHighest 8% below NY
Work from home	5.8%±4.7Lowest NY: 14.9%	7%±4.3Highest NY: 14.9%
	Hancock 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	#471 of 484 in NY
School district	—	HANCOCK CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	—	HANCOCK JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	8.9
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.