What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Chenango has the most expensive homes ($172k 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	Chenango
People
Population	13,738Highest	10,787Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.6%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-2.6%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	39±2.6Lowest about the NY average	41±2.8Highest 3% above NY
	Chenango and Olean 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%	22.7%±3Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Olean and Chenango 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%	22.6%±2.6Highest NY: 17.9%
	Chenango 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%	35.2%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.1Lowest NY: 7%	4.8%±2Highest NY: 7%
	Chenango 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 40% below NY	$86,646±$9kHighest about the NY average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$86,100±$6kLowest 80% below NY	$172,000±$9kHighest 59% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$794±$52Lowest 51% below NY	$1,038±$97Highest 36% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,130Lowest 52% below NY	$3,700Highest 44% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52%±9.1Highest NY: 52.1%	41.7%±8.7Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Olean and Chenango 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%	9.1%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	55.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%	85.3%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY	1964Highest 5 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	14 minLowest 56% below NY	24 minHighest 27% below NY
Work from home	8.4%±2.6Lowest NY: 14.9%	13.8%±3.2Highest NY: 14.9%
	Chenango 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	#233 of 484 in NY
School district	OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT	CHENANGO FORKS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	CHENANGO FORKS HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2Highest	11.1Lowest
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.