Compare towns
Olean vs Olean vs Oswego vs Strafford
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 oldest population (median age 53.8).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Oswego has the most renters (49.8% rent).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k 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 | Oswego | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,664 |
13,738 |
17,033Highest |
1,372Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±5.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
39±2.6 about the U.S. average |
35.7±1.6Lowest 8% below U.S. |
51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
| Olean and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Olean and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Olean and Strafford 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% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,583±$20k 8% below U.S. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$53,172±$4k 34% below U.S. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Strafford 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±$17k 52% below U.S. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$120,600±$7k 64% below U.S. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $666±$334Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$794±$52 44% below U.S. |
$1,109±$72 22% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789Highest 20% below U.S. |
| Strafford and Oswego are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,027 29% above U.S. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,362 8% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±25.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
60.4%±7.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Oswego 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% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
20.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
50.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 30% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
19 min 30% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 5.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #337 of 484 in NY | #337 of 484 in NY | #285 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | — | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | OSWEGO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | — | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | OSWEGO HIGH SCHOOL | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2Lowest |
12.5Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.