Compare towns
Olean vs Chenango vs Olean vs Amsterdam
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%).
Olean has the oldest population (median age 53.8).
Amsterdam has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.2%).
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 | Olean | Amsterdam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 13,738 |
10,787 |
1,664Lowest |
18,166Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6% NY: +4.2% |
-2.6% NY: +4.2% |
-4.2%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-2.2%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 39±2.6Lowest about the NY average |
41±2.8 3% above NY |
53.8±5.5Highest 35% above NY |
39.5±1.2 about the NY average |
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±2.9Highest NY: 20.5% |
22.7%±3 NY: 20.5% |
15.6%±4.5Lowest NY: 20.5% |
23%±2.3 NY: 20.5% |
| Olean and Amsterdam 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% |
25.2%±5.1Highest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±2.1 NY: 17.9% |
| Olean and Chenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.9% NY: 40.2% |
35.2%Highest NY: 40.2% |
23.3% NY: 40.2% |
22.5%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 NY: 7% |
4.8%±2Highest NY: 7% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest NY: 7% |
4%±1 NY: 7% |
| Chenango and Amsterdam 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 |
$74,583±$20k 13% below NY |
$56,178±$8k 35% below NY |
| Chenango 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 80% below NY |
$172,000±$9kHighest 59% below NY |
$158,600±$17k 63% below NY |
$137,900±$11k 67% below NY |
| Chenango and Olean 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±$97Highest 36% below NY |
$666±$334Lowest 59% below NY |
$1,006±$45 38% below NY |
| Chenango and Amsterdam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,130Lowest 52% below NY |
$3,700 44% below NY |
$4,027 39% below NY |
$4,369Highest 34% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52%±9.1 NY: 52.1% |
41.7%±8.7Lowest NY: 52.1% |
57.1%±25.5Highest NY: 52.1% |
45.4%±6.8 NY: 52.1% |
| 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 NY: 14% |
9.1%Lowest NY: 14% |
16.3% NY: 14% |
20.2% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% NY: 54.3% |
85.3%Highest NY: 54.3% |
77.9% NY: 54.3% |
53%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1964Highest 5 yrs newer than NY |
1962 3 yrs newer than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 56% below NY |
24 minHighest 27% below NY |
19 min 43% below NY |
21 min 37% below NY |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.6 NY: 14.9% |
13.8%±3.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
5.8%±4.7Lowest NY: 14.9% |
10.5%±3.2 NY: 14.9% |
| Chenango and Amsterdam 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 | #337 of 484 in NY | #474 of 484 in NY |
| School district | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | CHENANGO FORKS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | AMSTERDAM CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | CHENANGO FORKS HIGH SCHOOL | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
11.1Lowest |
— | — |
| 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.