Compare towns
Olean vs Wells vs Gerry
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 shortest commute (19 min average).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).
Gerry has the most kids (20.9% under 18).
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 | Gerry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,664 |
671Lowest |
1,668Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.2% NY: +4.2% |
+1.3%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-6.5%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 53.8±5.5 35% above NY |
59.8±3.5Highest 50% above NY |
52.4±5.7Lowest 32% 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%±4.5 NY: 20.5% |
14.8%±4.5Lowest NY: 20.5% |
20.9%±3.9Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Gerry and Olean 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%±7.6 NY: 17.9% |
29.9%±3.1Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Gerry and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.3% NY: 40.2% |
19.6%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
23.4%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.5Lowest NY: 7% |
2.5%±1.9Lowest NY: 7% |
3.4%±2.3Highest NY: 7% |
| Gerry and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,583±$20kHighest 13% below NY |
$74,286±$31k 14% below NY |
$68,667±$12kLowest 20% 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±$17k 63% below NY |
$268,600±$45kHighest 37% below NY |
$119,200±$10kLowest 72% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $666±$334Lowest 59% below NY |
— | $1,138±$260Highest 30% below NY |
| Gerry and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,027Highest 39% below NY |
$2,588Lowest 61% below NY |
$2,606 60% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±25.5 NY: 52.1% |
30%±100Lowest NY: 52.1% |
61.2%±16.1Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Gerry and Olean 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% |
9% NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.9% NY: 54.3% |
91.7%Highest NY: 54.3% |
75.2%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 3 yrs newer than NY |
1972Highest 13 yrs newer than NY |
1967 8 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 43% below NY |
43 minHighest 32% above NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
| Work from home | 5.8%±4.7 NY: 14.9% |
3.6%±2.5Lowest NY: 14.9% |
6.2%±4.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Gerry 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 | — | — |
| School district | — | — | CASSADAGA VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | — | CASSADAGA VALLEY MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.