Compare towns
Olean vs Hector vs Esperance
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Olean has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Hector has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.9%).
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 | Hector | Esperance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,664Lowest |
4,850Highest |
1,794 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.2% NY: +4.2% |
-0.9%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-13%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 53.8±5.5Highest 35% above NY |
51.1±4Lowest 28% above NY |
51.9±5 30% above NY |
| Olean and Esperance are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±4.5 NY: 20.5% |
18%±3.8Highest NY: 20.5% |
14.7%±3.6Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Hector 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% |
25%±5 NY: 17.9% |
22.1%±3.8Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Olean and Hector 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% |
36.9%Highest NY: 40.2% |
24.1% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.5Lowest NY: 7% |
3.2%±1.6 NY: 7% |
4.2%±3.4Highest NY: 7% |
| Esperance and Hector 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 |
$79,904±$19kHighest 7% below NY |
$76,058±$11k 12% below NY |
| Hector and Esperance 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 |
$218,700±$32kHighest 48% below NY |
$196,200±$45k 54% below NY |
| Hector and Esperance 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 |
$1,083±$525Highest 33% below NY |
$1,075±$470 34% below NY |
| Hector and Esperance are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,027 39% below NY |
$4,072Highest 38% below NY |
$4,005Lowest 39% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±25.5 NY: 52.1% |
81.7%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
54.8%±15.1Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Hector 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% |
15.6% NY: 14% |
8.8%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.9% NY: 54.3% |
91.4%Highest NY: 54.3% |
77.5%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 3 yrs newer than NY |
1979Highest 20 yrs newer than NY |
1957Lowest 2 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 43% below NY |
27 min 18% below NY |
27 minHighest 17% below NY |
| Work from home | 5.8%±4.7Lowest NY: 14.9% |
13.6%±4.8Highest NY: 14.9% |
10.2%±5.7 NY: 14.9% |
| Hector and Esperance 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 | 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.