Compare towns
Olean vs Olean vs Waterville vs Esperance
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).
Waterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Esperance has the most people working from home (10.2%).
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 | Waterville | Esperance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,664 |
13,738Highest |
680Lowest |
1,794 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-13%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±5.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
49.1±8.2 26% above U.S. |
51.9±5 33% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±8.2 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Olean and Waterville 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% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Olean and Esperance 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% |
32.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1% 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% |
5.3%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Waterville 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 8% below U.S. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$71,250±$27k 12% below U.S. |
$76,058±$11kHighest 6% below U.S. |
| Esperance 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. |
$236,300±$15kHighest 29% below U.S. |
$196,200±$45k 41% below U.S. |
| Waterville and Esperance are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $666±$334Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$794±$52 44% below U.S. |
$1,110±$93Highest 21% below U.S. |
$1,075±$470 24% below U.S. |
| Waterville and Esperance are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,027Highest 29% above U.S. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,957 27% above U.S. |
$4,005 28% 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% |
44.6%±27.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.8%±15.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1957 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 30% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 5.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.2%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Esperance and Waterville 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 | — | — |
| School district | — | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | — |
| 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 | 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.