Compare towns

Olean vs Olean vs Waterbury

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).
Waterbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).

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.

MeasureOleanOleanWaterbury
People
Population
1,664Lowest
13,738Highest
5,405
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
53.8±5.5Highest
38% above U.S.
39±2.6Lowest
about the U.S. average
43.2±3.7
11% above U.S.
Kids under 18
15.6%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.5%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
21.9%±4.9
U.S.: 22%
Olean and Waterbury 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%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±4.4
U.S.: 17.2%
Olean and Waterbury 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%
54.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.5%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.6%±1.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.4%±2.8
U.S.: 6.4%
Olean and Waterbury 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
8% below U.S.
$51,261±$7kLowest
37% below U.S.
$103,917±$23kHighest
29% above U.S.
Waterbury 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.
$447,200±$40kHighest
34% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$666±$334Lowest
53% below U.S.
$794±$52
44% below U.S.
$1,027±$535Highest
27% below U.S.
Waterbury and Olean 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
$6,435Highest
106% 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%
46.8%±21.7Lowest
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%
7.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
77.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
55.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
70.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1962
18 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1983Highest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 min
30% below U.S.
14 minLowest
45% below U.S.
30 minHighest
14% above U.S.
Work from home
5.8%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
8.4%±2.6
U.S.: 15.1%
28.3%±6.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #337 of 484 in NY #337 of 484 in NY #20 of 70 in VT
School district — OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT Harwood Unified Union School District #60
High school in town — OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL None in town
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.