Compare towns
Olean vs Brighton vs Massena
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.6%).
Brighton has the most expensive homes ($164k median).
Massena has the most homeowners (55.4%).
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 | Brighton | Massena |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,738Highest |
1,167Lowest |
10,238 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.2±11.6Highest 16% above U.S. |
42.6±4.7 10% above U.S. |
| Brighton and Massena are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Olean and Massena are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brighton and Massena 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.4Lowest 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 | $51,261±$7k 37% below U.S. |
$47,375±$21kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$51,458±$7kHighest 36% below U.S. |
| Massena 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 74% below U.S. |
$163,900±$39kHighest 51% below U.S. |
$94,400±$15k 72% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$52Highest 44% below U.S. |
$775±$33 45% below U.S. |
$722±$44Lowest 49% below U.S. |
| Olean and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,360Highest 8% above U.S. |
$3,218 3% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.8%±11.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Massena and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
22%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
24.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Highest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1954 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
18 min 32% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.4%±8.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.2%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brighton 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 | — | — |
| School district | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Brighton School District | — |
| High school in town | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
— | — |
| 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.