Compare towns
Olean vs Wright vs Brighton
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).
Wright has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.5%).
Brighton has the most people working from home (12.4%).
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 | Wright | Brighton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,664 |
1,739Highest |
1,167Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±5.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
45.2±11.6Lowest 16% above U.S. |
| Olean and Wright are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brighton and Wright 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% |
21.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brighton 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% |
24.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brighton 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±$20k 8% below U.S. |
$86,250±$13kHighest 7% above U.S. |
$47,375±$21kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Wright 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±$17kLowest 52% below U.S. |
$242,000±$36kHighest 27% below U.S. |
$163,900±$39k 51% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $666±$334Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$953±$79Highest 33% below U.S. |
$775±$33 45% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,027 29% above U.S. |
$5,279Highest 69% above U.S. |
$3,360Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±25.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.6%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Olean and Brighton 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% |
7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
22%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 5.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.4%±8.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brighton and Wright 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 | — | — | Brighton School District |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| 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.