What stands out worked out from the figures below

Olean has the most homeowners (77.9%).

Union has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Olean	Union
People
Population	1,664Lowest	55,078Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.2%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-0.4%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	53.8±5.5Highest 35% above NY	41.4±1.2Lowest 4% above NY
Kids under 18	15.6%±4.5Lowest NY: 20.5%	19%±1.3Highest NY: 20.5%
	Union and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.2%±5.1Highest NY: 17.9%	21.4%±1.3Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Olean and Union 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 NY: 40.2%	33%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±1.5Lowest NY: 7%	6.1%±0.9Highest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$74,583±$20kHighest 13% below NY	$61,713±$2kLowest 28% below NY
	Olean and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$158,600±$17kHighest 63% below NY	$149,900±$5kLowest 65% below NY
	Olean and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$666±$334Lowest 59% below NY	$936±$37Highest 42% below NY
	Union and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,027Lowest 39% below NY	$4,200Highest 36% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.1%±25.5Highest NY: 52.1%	49.2%±5.6Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Olean and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16.3%Highest NY: 14%	16.2%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.9%Highest NY: 54.3%	58.9%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Highest 3 yrs newer than NY	1955Lowest 4 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minHighest 43% below NY	18 minLowest 46% below NY
Work from home	5.8%±4.7Lowest NY: 14.9%	9%±1.5Highest NY: 14.9%
	Union and Olean 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	#199 of 484 in NY
School district	—	UNION-ENDICOTT CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · JOHNSON CITY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	—	UNION-ENDICOTT HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.4
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

NY 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.