Compare towns
Olean vs Olean vs Williston vs Allegany
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).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Allegany has the youngest population (median age 37.4).
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.
| Measure | Olean | Olean | Williston | Allegany |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,664Lowest |
13,738Highest |
10,144 |
7,410 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±5.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
39±2.6 about the U.S. average |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
37.4±4.1Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Olean and Williston 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% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Olean and Williston 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% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Olean and Williston 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% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.2% 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% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
23.4%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,583±$20k 8% below U.S. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$72,500±$15k 10% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $158,600±$17k 52% below U.S. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$169,400±$13k 49% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $666±$334Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$794±$52 44% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$728±$56 48% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,027 29% above U.S. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$3,986 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% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±7.6 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% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 30% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
20 minHighest 25% below U.S. |
20 min 26% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 5.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #337 of 484 in NY | #337 of 484 in NY | #11 of 70 in VT | #161 of 484 in NY |
| School district | — | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | ALLEGANY-LIMESTONE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | ALLEGANY-LIMESTONE MIDDLE-HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2Highest |
— | 9.6Lowest |
| 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.