Compare towns
Olean vs Cavendish vs Putnam vs Olean
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 most affordable homes ($86k median).
Cavendish has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.8%).
Putnam has the most homeowners (95.9%).
Olean has the oldest population (median age 53.8).
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 | Cavendish | Putnam | Olean |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 13,738Highest |
1,242 |
540Lowest |
1,664 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.2±5.9 16% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4 38% above U.S. |
53.8±5.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Olean and Putnam 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%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Olean and Cavendish 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% |
23.6%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cavendish 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±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$89,063±$29k 10% above U.S. |
$92,344±$14kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$74,583±$20k 8% below U.S. |
| Putnam and Cavendish 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. |
$285,100±$40kHighest 14% below U.S. |
$266,200±$48k 20% below U.S. |
$158,600±$17k 52% below U.S. |
| Cavendish and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$52 44% below U.S. |
$1,000±$546Highest 29% below U.S. |
— | $666±$334Lowest 53% below U.S. |
| Cavendish and Olean 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 |
$3,948 27% above U.S. |
$3,674 18% above U.S. |
$4,027Highest 29% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
28.9%±27 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±25.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Olean and Olean 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% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
19 min 30% below U.S. |
21 minHighest 19% below U.S. |
19 min 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Cavendish and Putnam 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 | — | — | #337 of 484 in NY |
| School district | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 18 photos → | 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.