Compare towns
Olean vs Olean vs Chenango 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 oldest population (median age 53.8).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Chenango has the most people working from home (13.8%).
Esperance has the most expensive homes ($196k 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.
| Measure | Olean | Olean | Chenango | Esperance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,664Lowest |
13,738Highest |
10,787 |
1,794 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.2% NY: +4.2% |
-3.6% NY: +4.2% |
-2.6%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-13%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 53.8±5.5Highest 35% above NY |
39±2.6Lowest about the NY average |
41±2.8 3% 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% |
23.5%±2.9Highest NY: 20.5% |
22.7%±3 NY: 20.5% |
14.7%±3.6Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Olean and Chenango 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% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest NY: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.6 NY: 17.9% |
22.1%±3.8 NY: 17.9% |
| Olean and Chenango 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% |
29.9% NY: 40.2% |
35.2%Highest NY: 40.2% |
24.1% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.5Lowest NY: 7% |
3.6%±1.1 NY: 7% |
4.8%±2Highest NY: 7% |
4.2%±3.4 NY: 7% |
| Chenango and Esperance are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,583±$20k 13% below NY |
$51,261±$7kLowest 40% below NY |
$86,646±$9kHighest about the NY average |
$76,058±$11k 12% below NY |
| Chenango 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±$17k 63% below NY |
$86,100±$6kLowest 80% below NY |
$172,000±$9k 59% below NY |
$196,200±$45kHighest 54% below NY |
| Esperance and Chenango 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 |
$794±$52 51% below NY |
$1,038±$97 36% below NY |
$1,075±$470Highest 34% below NY |
| Esperance and Chenango 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 |
$3,130Lowest 52% below NY |
$3,700 44% below NY |
$4,005 39% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±25.5Highest NY: 52.1% |
52%±9.1 NY: 52.1% |
41.7%±8.7Lowest NY: 52.1% |
54.8%±15.1 NY: 52.1% |
| Olean and Esperance are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.3% NY: 14% |
26.7%Highest NY: 14% |
9.1% NY: 14% |
8.8%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.9% NY: 54.3% |
55.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
85.3%Highest NY: 54.3% |
77.5% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 3 yrs newer than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1964Highest 5 yrs newer than NY |
1957 2 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 43% below NY |
14 minLowest 56% below NY |
24 min 27% below NY |
27 minHighest 17% below NY |
| Work from home | 5.8%±4.7Lowest NY: 14.9% |
8.4%±2.6 NY: 14.9% |
13.8%±3.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
10.2%±5.7 NY: 14.9% |
| Chenango 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 | #337 of 484 in NY | #233 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | — | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | CHENANGO FORKS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | — | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | CHENANGO FORKS HIGH SCHOOL | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2Highest |
11.1Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.