What stands out worked out from the figures below

Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).

Arkwright has the most expensive homes ($171k 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	Arkwright
People
Population	13,738Highest	859Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.6%Highest NY: +4.2%	-5%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	39±2.6Lowest about the NY average	50.8±7.2Highest 28% above NY
Kids under 18	23.5%±2.9Highest NY: 20.5%	17.2%±5.4Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Olean and Arkwright are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.1%±2.5Lowest NY: 17.9%	23.2%±3.1Highest NY: 17.9%
	Arkwright 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%Highest NY: 40.2%	26.4%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.1Highest NY: 7%	3.3%±1.6Lowest NY: 7%
	Olean and Arkwright are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$51,261±$7kLowest 40% below NY	$93,000±$26kHighest 8% above NY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$86,100±$6kLowest 80% below NY	$170,900±$30kHighest 60% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$794±$52Lowest 51% below NY	$875±$689Highest 46% below NY
	Arkwright and Olean 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	$3,760Highest 43% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52%±9.1Highest NY: 52.1%	50%±65.2Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Olean and Arkwright 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%	12.2%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	55.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%	89.3%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY	1979Highest 20 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	14 minLowest 56% below NY	27 minHighest 18% below NY
Work from home	8.4%±2.6Highest NY: 14.9%	6%±3.7Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Olean and Arkwright 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	OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT	—
High school in town	OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	—
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2	—
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.