Compare towns
Olean vs Chenango vs Gerry vs Allegany
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Chenango has the most people working from home (13.8%).
Gerry has the oldest population (median age 52.4).
Allegany has the youngest population (median age 37.4).
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 | Chenango | Gerry | Allegany |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 13,738Highest |
10,787 |
1,668Lowest |
7,410 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6% NY: +4.2% |
-2.6%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-6.5%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-6.4% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 39±2.6 about the NY average |
41±2.8 3% above NY |
52.4±5.7Highest 32% above NY |
37.4±4.1Lowest 6% below NY |
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±2.9Highest NY: 20.5% |
22.7%±3 NY: 20.5% |
20.9%±3.9 NY: 20.5% |
15.1%±2.5Lowest 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%±2.6 NY: 17.9% |
29.9%±3.1Highest NY: 17.9% |
20.5%±2.7 NY: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.9% NY: 40.2% |
35.2%Highest NY: 40.2% |
23.4%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
34.2% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 NY: 7% |
4.8%±2 NY: 7% |
3.4%±2.3Lowest NY: 7% |
23.4%±1.7Highest NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $51,261±$7kLowest 40% below NY |
$86,646±$9kHighest about the NY average |
$68,667±$12k 20% below NY |
$72,500±$15k 16% below NY |
| Chenango and Allegany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $86,100±$6kLowest 80% below NY |
$172,000±$9kHighest 59% below NY |
$119,200±$10k 72% below NY |
$169,400±$13k 60% below NY |
| Chenango and Allegany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$52 51% below NY |
$1,038±$97 36% below NY |
$1,138±$260Highest 30% below NY |
$728±$56Lowest 55% below NY |
| Gerry and Chenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,130 52% below NY |
$3,700 44% below NY |
$2,606Lowest 60% below NY |
$3,986Highest 39% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52%±9.1 NY: 52.1% |
41.7%±8.7Lowest NY: 52.1% |
61.2%±16.1Highest NY: 52.1% |
48.6%±7.6 NY: 52.1% |
| Gerry 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 NY: 14% |
9.1% NY: 14% |
9%Lowest NY: 14% |
15% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
85.3%Highest NY: 54.3% |
75.2% NY: 54.3% |
80.3% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1964 5 yrs newer than NY |
1967 8 yrs newer than NY |
1971Highest 12 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 56% below NY |
24 min 27% below NY |
27 minHighest 17% below NY |
20 min 40% below NY |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.6 NY: 14.9% |
13.8%±3.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
6.2%±4.2Lowest NY: 14.9% |
9.7%±3.5 NY: 14.9% |
| Chenango and Allegany 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 | — | #161 of 484 in NY |
| School district | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | CHENANGO FORKS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | CASSADAGA VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | ALLEGANY-LIMESTONE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | CHENANGO FORKS HIGH SCHOOL | CASSADAGA VALLEY MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL | ALLEGANY-LIMESTONE MIDDLE-HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
11.1 |
8.7Lowest |
9.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.