Compare towns
Olean vs Constable vs Ellery vs Oswego
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.6%).
Constable has the most kids (24.5% under 18).
Ellery has the most expensive homes ($236k median).
Oswego has the most renters (49.8% rent).
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 | Constable | Ellery | Oswego |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 13,738 |
1,501Lowest |
4,073 |
17,033Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-5.1% NY: +4.2% |
-9%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-6.7% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 39±2.6 about the NY average |
39.7±5.2 about the NY average |
56.1±4.5Highest 41% above NY |
35.7±1.6Lowest 10% below NY |
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±2.9 NY: 20.5% |
24.5%±5.1Highest NY: 20.5% |
14.3%±3.8Lowest NY: 20.5% |
21.9%±2.6 NY: 20.5% |
| Constable and Olean 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% |
15.2%±2.2Lowest NY: 17.9% |
30.8%±6.6Highest NY: 17.9% |
18.3%±2.1 NY: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.9% NY: 40.2% |
14.8%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
40%Highest NY: 40.2% |
26.1% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 NY: 7% |
1.6%±1.4Lowest NY: 7% |
4.4%±2.2 NY: 7% |
10.1%±2Highest NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $51,261±$7kLowest 40% below NY |
$62,169±$6k 28% below NY |
$86,833±$12kHighest about the NY average |
$53,172±$4k 38% below NY |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $86,100±$6kLowest 80% below NY |
$119,200±$19k 72% below NY |
$235,900±$29kHighest 44% below NY |
$120,600±$7k 72% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$52 51% below NY |
$759±$172Lowest 53% below NY |
$845±$189 48% below NY |
$1,109±$72Highest 32% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,130 52% below NY |
$2,177Lowest 67% below NY |
$3,796Highest 42% below NY |
$3,362 49% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52%±9.1 NY: 52.1% |
40.8%±34.6 NY: 52.1% |
35.9%±16.8Lowest NY: 52.1% |
60.4%±7.4Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Oswego 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% |
15.6% NY: 14% |
9.2%Lowest NY: 14% |
20.6% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% NY: 54.3% |
88.8% NY: 54.3% |
89.5%Highest NY: 54.3% |
50.2%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1979Highest 20 yrs newer than NY |
1967 8 yrs newer than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 56% below NY |
22 min 32% below NY |
23 minHighest 29% below NY |
19 min 43% below NY |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.6 NY: 14.9% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest NY: 14.9% |
4.5%±2.4 NY: 14.9% |
8.6%±2.9Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Oswego 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 | — | #241 of 484 in NY | #285 of 484 in NY |
| School district | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | BEMUS POINT CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | OSWEGO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — | MAPLE GROVE JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | OSWEGO HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
— | 7.6Lowest |
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.