Compare towns
Olean vs Wells vs Gerry
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 shortest commute (19 min average).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
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 |
1,148Lowest |
1,668Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±5.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
50.7±5.2Lowest 30% above U.S. |
52.4±5.7 35% above U.S. |
| Olean and Gerry 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% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Gerry and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.9%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gerry 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gerry and Wells 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. |
$75,417±$11kHighest 7% below U.S. |
$68,667±$12kLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Wells 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. |
$243,000±$42kHighest 27% below U.S. |
$119,200±$10kLowest 64% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $666±$334Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$1,313±$282Highest 7% below U.S. |
$1,138±$260 19% below U.S. |
| Wells and Gerry 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. |
$3,308 6% above U.S. |
$2,606Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±25.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.5%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.2%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wells and Gerry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
48 minHighest 80% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 5.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wells and Gerry 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 | — | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | CASSADAGA VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | None 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 |
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.