Compare towns

Olean vs Ludlow vs Olean

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Olean has the highest household income ($75k).
Ludlow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Olean has the most kids (23.5% under 18).

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.

MeasureOleanLudlowOlean
People
Population
1,664Lowest
1,990
13,738Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
53.8±5.5Highest
38% above U.S.
52.2±6.2
34% above U.S.
39±2.6Lowest
about the U.S. average
Olean and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.6%±4.5
U.S.: 22%
14.1%±6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.5%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
25.2%±5.1
U.S.: 17.2%
31.1%±2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.1%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Ludlow 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
U.S.: 35.7%
45.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
29.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.5%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.8%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.6%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
Ludlow 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
8% below U.S.
$54,885±$14k
32% below U.S.
$51,261±$7kLowest
37% below U.S.
Olean and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$158,600±$17k
52% below U.S.
$370,200±$46kHighest
11% above U.S.
$86,100±$6kLowest
74% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$666±$334Lowest
53% below U.S.
$1,112±$151Highest
21% below U.S.
$794±$52
44% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,027
29% above U.S.
$4,890Highest
57% above U.S.
$3,130Lowest
about the U.S. average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.1%±25.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
45.2%±25.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52%±9.1
U.S.: 51.1%
Olean and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
16.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
26.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
77.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
55.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1962
18 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 min
30% below U.S.
20 minHighest
24% below U.S.
14 minLowest
45% below U.S.
Work from home
5.8%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
21.3%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
8.4%±2.6
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #337 of 484 in NY — #337 of 484 in NY
School district — Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town — None in town OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school — —
12.2
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.