Compare towns
Olean vs Calais vs Massena vs Johnson City
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 the shortest commute (14 min average).
Calais has the most expensive homes ($390k median).
Massena has the oldest population (median age 42.6).
Johnson City has the most renters (47.7% rent).
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 | Calais | Massena | Johnson City |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 13,738 |
1,713Lowest |
10,238 |
14,940Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
42±8.6 8% above U.S. |
42.6±4.7Highest 10% above U.S. |
40.7±3.4 5% above U.S. |
| Massena and Calais 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% |
22.5%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.1%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Olean and Calais 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% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Johnson City and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Johnson City and Calais 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 37% below U.S. |
$100,625±$27kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$51,458±$7k 36% below U.S. |
$56,283±$4k 30% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$390,300±$36kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$94,400±$15k 72% below U.S. |
$117,100±$4k 65% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$52 44% below U.S. |
$1,408±$392Highest about the U.S. average |
$722±$44Lowest 49% below U.S. |
$1,031±$66 27% below U.S. |
| Calais and Johnson City 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 |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
$3,218 3% above U.S. |
$3,982 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.8%±11.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.8%±10.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
24.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
19.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1954 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1949 31 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
18 min 32% below U.S. |
17 min 38% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.2%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #337 of 484 in NY | — | — | — |
| School district | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | — |
| 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 | 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.