Compare towns
Olean vs Wright vs Massena
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 oldest population (median age 53.8).
Wright has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.5%).
Massena has the most affordable homes ($94k median).
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 | Massena |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,664Lowest |
1,739 |
10,238Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.2% NY: +4.2% |
-1.5%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-7.2%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 53.8±5.5Highest 35% above NY |
51.4±4.7 29% above NY |
42.6±4.7Lowest 7% above NY |
| 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 NY: 20.5% |
16.7%±3.1 NY: 20.5% |
19.4%±3.4Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Massena and Wright 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%±1.9 NY: 17.9% |
20.4%±3.3Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Olean and Wright 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% |
24.4% NY: 40.2% |
25.1%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.5 NY: 7% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest NY: 7% |
2.9%±1.4Highest NY: 7% |
| Massena 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 13% below NY |
$86,250±$13kHighest about the NY average |
$51,458±$7kLowest 40% below NY |
| 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±$17k 63% below NY |
$242,000±$36kHighest 43% below NY |
$94,400±$15kLowest 78% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $666±$334Lowest 59% below NY |
$953±$79Highest 41% below NY |
$722±$44 55% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,027 39% below NY |
$5,279Highest 20% below NY |
$3,218Lowest 51% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±25.5 NY: 52.1% |
37.6%±16.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
57.8%±11.4Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Massena and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.3% NY: 14% |
7%Lowest NY: 14% |
24.3%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.9% NY: 54.3% |
80.6%Highest NY: 54.3% |
55.4%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 3 yrs newer than NY |
1983Highest 24 yrs newer than NY |
1954Lowest 5 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 43% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
18 minLowest 45% below NY |
| Work from home | 5.8%±4.7 NY: 14.9% |
5.9%±2.8Highest NY: 14.9% |
5.2%±2.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Wright 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 | — | — |
| 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.