Compare towns

Olean vs Olean vs Pawlet

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).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Pawlet has the most people working from home (20.4%).

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.

MeasureOleanOleanPawlet
People
Population
1,664
13,738Highest
1,480Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
53.8±5.5Highest
38% above U.S.
39±2.6Lowest
about the U.S. average
47.9±7.5
23% above U.S.
Olean and Pawlet 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%
20.3%±5.2
U.S.: 22%
Olean and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
25.2%±5.1
U.S.: 17.2%
19.1%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
27.3%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Pawlet 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%
29.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
37.5%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%
4.4%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Pawlet 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.
$51,261±$7kLowest
37% below U.S.
$62,273±$14k
23% below U.S.
Olean and Pawlet 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.
$266,200±$44kHighest
20% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$666±$334Lowest
53% below U.S.
$794±$52
44% below U.S.
$1,153±$215Highest
18% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,027Highest
29% above U.S.
$3,130Lowest
about the U.S. average
$3,924
26% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.1%±25.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
52%±9.1
U.S.: 51.1%
42.6%±21.3Lowest
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%
26.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
10%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
77.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
55.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1962
18 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1964Highest
16 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 min
30% below U.S.
14 minLowest
45% below U.S.
33 minHighest
25% above U.S.
Work from home
5.8%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
8.4%±2.6
U.S.: 15.1%
20.4%±8.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #337 of 484 in NY #337 of 484 in NY —
School district — OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT Mettawee School District #84
High school in town — OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.2
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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.