Compare towns
Olean vs Chenango vs Oswego vs Massena
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 shortest commute (14 min average).
Chenango has the highest household income ($87k).
Oswego has the most renters (49.8% rent).
Massena has the oldest population (median age 42.6).
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 | Oswego | Massena |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 13,738 |
10,787 |
17,033Highest |
10,238Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6% NY: +4.2% |
-2.6%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-6.7% NY: +4.2% |
-7.2%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 39±2.6 about the NY average |
41±2.8 3% above NY |
35.7±1.6Lowest 10% below NY |
42.6±4.7Highest 7% above NY |
| Massena and Chenango 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%±3 NY: 20.5% |
21.9%±2.6 NY: 20.5% |
19.4%±3.4Lowest 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%±2.5 NY: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.6Highest NY: 17.9% |
18.3%±2.1Lowest NY: 17.9% |
20.4%±3.3 NY: 17.9% |
| Chenango and Massena 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% |
26.1% NY: 40.2% |
25.1%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 NY: 7% |
4.8%±2 NY: 7% |
10.1%±2Highest NY: 7% |
2.9%±1.4Lowest NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $51,261±$7kLowest 40% below NY |
$86,646±$9kHighest about the NY average |
$53,172±$4k 38% below NY |
$51,458±$7k 40% below NY |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $86,100±$6kLowest 80% below NY |
$172,000±$9kHighest 59% below NY |
$120,600±$7k 72% below NY |
$94,400±$15k 78% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$52 51% below NY |
$1,038±$97 36% below NY |
$1,109±$72Highest 32% below NY |
$722±$44Lowest 55% below NY |
| Oswego and Chenango 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 |
$3,700Highest 44% below NY |
$3,362 49% below NY |
$3,218 51% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52%±9.1 NY: 52.1% |
41.7%±8.7Lowest NY: 52.1% |
60.4%±7.4Highest NY: 52.1% |
57.8%±11.4 NY: 52.1% |
| Oswego and Massena 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% |
20.6% NY: 14% |
24.3% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% NY: 54.3% |
85.3%Highest NY: 54.3% |
50.2%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
55.4% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1964Highest 5 yrs newer than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1954 5 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 |
18 min 45% below NY |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.6 NY: 14.9% |
13.8%±3.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
8.6%±2.9 NY: 14.9% |
5.2%±2.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Chenango and Oswego 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 | #285 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | CHENANGO FORKS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | OSWEGO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | CHENANGO FORKS HIGH SCHOOL | OSWEGO HIGH SCHOOL | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
11.1Lowest |
12.5Highest |
— |
| 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.