Compare towns
Olean vs Chester vs Massena
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.6%).
Chester has the most expensive homes ($233k 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.
| Measure | Olean | Chester | Massena |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,738Highest |
2,992Lowest |
10,238 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
49.7±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
42.6±4.7 10% above U.S. |
| Chester and Massena 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% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Olean and Massena 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% |
29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester 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. |
$62,125±$8kHighest 23% below U.S. |
$51,458±$7k 36% below U.S. |
| Chester and Massena 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. |
$232,900±$44kHighest 30% below U.S. |
$94,400±$15k 72% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$52 44% below U.S. |
$960±$44Highest 32% below U.S. |
$722±$44Lowest 49% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,262Highest 37% above U.S. |
$3,218 3% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.8%±11.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Massena 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% |
7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
24.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1954 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
18 min 32% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.2%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chester 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 | #49 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | — |
| High school in town | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | Green Mountain Union High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
8.7Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.