Compare towns
Olean vs Wells
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Olean has the most people working from home (5.8%).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).
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.
| Measure | Olean | Wells |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 1,664Highest |
671Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.2%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+1.3%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 53.8±5.5Lowest 35% above NY |
59.8±3.5Highest 50% above NY |
| Wells and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±4.5Highest NY: 20.5% |
14.8%±4.5Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Olean and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±5.1Lowest NY: 17.9% |
28.9%±7.6Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Wells 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%Highest NY: 40.2% |
19.6%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.5 NY: 7% |
2.5%±1.9 NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||
| Household incomemedian | $74,583±$20kHighest 13% below NY |
$74,286±$31kLowest 14% below NY |
| Olean and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $158,600±$17kLowest 63% below NY |
$268,600±$45kHighest 37% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $666±$334 59% below NY |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,027Highest 39% below NY |
$2,588Lowest 61% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±25.5Highest NY: 52.1% |
30%±100Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Olean and Wells 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% |
4.6%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.9%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
91.7%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 3 yrs newer than NY |
1972Highest 13 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 43% below NY |
43 minHighest 32% above NY |
| Work from home | 5.8%±4.7Highest NY: 14.9% |
3.6%±2.5Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Olean and Wells 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 | — |
| 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.