Compare towns
Olean vs Cornwall vs Middlesex
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 the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Cornwall has the most expensive homes ($458k median).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
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 | Cornwall | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,738Highest |
1,208Lowest |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
50.4±4.6Highest 30% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
| Cornwall and Middlesex 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% |
18.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Olean and Middlesex 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% |
25.7%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cornwall and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Cornwall 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. |
$114,583±$32kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
| Cornwall and Middlesex 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. |
$458,000±$49kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
| Cornwall and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$1,125±$206 20% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$6,726Highest 116% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±65.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Cornwall 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% |
0.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Cornwall 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 | — | — |
| School district | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
— | — |
| 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.