Compare towns
Olean vs Wright vs Tompkins 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).
Wright has the most expensive homes ($242k median).
Tompkins has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
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 | Wright | Tompkins | Gerry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,664 |
1,739Highest |
1,187Lowest |
1,668 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.2% NY: +4.2% |
-1.5% NY: +4.2% |
+3.4%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-6.5%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 53.8±5.5 35% above NY |
51.4±4.7Lowest 29% above NY |
57.6±5.8Highest 45% above NY |
52.4±5.7 32% above NY |
| Tompkins 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% |
16.7%±3.1 NY: 20.5% |
8.8%±1.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
20.9%±3.9Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Gerry 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 NY: 17.9% |
21.4%±1.9Lowest NY: 17.9% |
30.6%±4.9Highest NY: 17.9% |
29.9%±3.1 NY: 17.9% |
| Tompkins and Gerry 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% |
24.4%Highest NY: 40.2% |
18.8%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
23.4% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.5 NY: 7% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest NY: 7% |
3.9%±2Highest NY: 7% |
3.4%±2.3 NY: 7% |
| Tompkins and Gerry 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 |
$61,103±$27kLowest 29% below NY |
$68,667±$12k 20% 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 |
$185,700±$23k 56% below NY |
$119,200±$10kLowest 72% below NY |
| Wright and Tompkins are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $666±$334 59% below NY |
$953±$79 41% below NY |
$483±$80Lowest 70% below NY |
$1,138±$260Highest 30% below NY |
| Gerry and Wright are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,027 39% below NY |
$5,279Highest 20% below NY |
$2,487Lowest 62% below NY |
$2,606 60% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±25.5 NY: 52.1% |
37.6%±16.4 NY: 52.1% |
0%±73.7Lowest 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% |
7%Lowest NY: 14% |
8.8% NY: 14% |
9% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.9% NY: 54.3% |
80.6% NY: 54.3% |
91.1%Highest NY: 54.3% |
75.2%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 3 yrs newer than NY |
1983 24 yrs newer than NY |
1992Highest 33 yrs newer than NY |
1967 8 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 43% below NY |
33 min about the NY average |
70 minHighest 115% above NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
| Work from home | 5.8%±4.7Lowest NY: 14.9% |
5.9%±2.8 NY: 14.9% |
23.5%±13.3Highest NY: 14.9% |
6.2%±4.2 NY: 14.9% |
| Tompkins 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 | — | — | — | 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 | 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.