What stands out worked out from the figures below

Olean has the most kids (23.5% under 18).

Allegany has the most expensive homes ($169k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Olean	Allegany
People
Population	13,738Highest	7,410Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.6%Highest NY: +4.2%	-6.4%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	39±2.6Highest about the NY average	37.4±4.1Lowest 6% below NY
	Olean and Allegany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.5%±2.9Highest NY: 20.5%	15.1%±2.5Lowest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	19.1%±2.5Lowest NY: 17.9%	20.5%±2.7Highest NY: 17.9%
	Allegany and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29.9%Lowest NY: 40.2%	34.2%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.1Lowest NY: 7%	23.4%±1.7Highest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$51,261±$7kLowest 40% below NY	$72,500±$15kHighest 16% below NY
	Allegany and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$86,100±$6kLowest 80% below NY	$169,400±$13kHighest 60% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$794±$52Highest 51% below NY	$728±$56Lowest 55% below NY
	Olean and Allegany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,130Lowest 52% below NY	$3,986Highest 39% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52%±9.1Highest NY: 52.1%	48.6%±7.6Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Olean and Allegany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	26.7%Highest NY: 14%	15%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	55.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%	80.3%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY	1971Highest 12 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	14 minLowest 56% below NY	20 minHighest 40% below NY
Work from home	8.4%±2.6Lowest NY: 14.9%	9.7%±3.5Highest NY: 14.9%
	Allegany 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	#161 of 484 in NY
School district	OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT	ALLEGANY-LIMESTONE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	ALLEGANY-LIMESTONE MIDDLE-HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2Highest	9.6Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.