Compare towns

Olean vs Day vs Oswego vs Olean

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).
Day has the most expensive homes ($224k median).
Oswego has the most renters (49.8% rent).
Olean has the highest household income ($75k).

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.

MeasureOleanDayOswegoOlean
People
Population
13,738
843Lowest
17,033Highest
1,664
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.6%Highest
NY: +4.2%
-4.3%
NY: +4.2%
-6.7%Lowest
NY: +4.2%
-4.2%
NY: +4.2%
Median age
39±2.6
about the NY average
61.4±2.4Highest
54% above NY
35.7±1.6Lowest
10% below NY
53.8±5.5
35% above NY
Day and Olean 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%
7.8%±3.6Lowest
NY: 20.5%
21.9%±2.6
NY: 20.5%
15.6%±4.5
NY: 20.5%
Olean and Oswego 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%
37.6%±5.8Highest
NY: 17.9%
18.3%±2.1Lowest
NY: 17.9%
25.2%±5.1
NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
29.9%Highest
NY: 40.2%
24.5%
NY: 40.2%
26.1%
NY: 40.2%
23.3%Lowest
NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.6%±1.1
NY: 7%
3%±1.8
NY: 7%
10.1%±2Highest
NY: 7%
2.5%±1.5Lowest
NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$51,261±$7kLowest
40% below NY
$57,727±$16k
33% below NY
$53,172±$4k
38% below NY
$74,583±$20kHighest
13% below NY
Olean and Day 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
$224,400±$49kHighest
47% below NY
$120,600±$7k
72% below NY
$158,600±$17k
63% below NY
Day 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
—
$1,109±$72Highest
32% below NY
$666±$334Lowest
59% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,130
52% below NY
$2,765Lowest
58% below NY
$3,362
49% below NY
$4,027Highest
39% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52%±9.1Lowest
NY: 52.1%
100%±100Highest
NY: 52.1%
60.4%±7.4
NY: 52.1%
57.1%±25.5
NY: 52.1%
Day and Oswego 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%
12.2%Lowest
NY: 14%
20.6%
NY: 14%
16.3%
NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
55.1%
NY: 54.3%
90.3%Highest
NY: 54.3%
50.2%Lowest
NY: 54.3%
77.9%
NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
21 yrs older than NY
1972Highest
13 yrs newer than NY
1938Lowest
21 yrs older than NY
1962
3 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
14 minLowest
56% below NY
38 minHighest
16% above NY
19 min
43% below NY
19 min
43% below NY
Work from home
8.4%±2.6
NY: 14.9%
7.4%±4.2
NY: 14.9%
8.6%±2.9Highest
NY: 14.9%
5.8%±4.7Lowest
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 — #285 of 484 in NY #337 of 484 in NY
School district OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT — OSWEGO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT —
High school in town OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL — OSWEGO HIGH SCHOOL —
Students per teacherat that high school
12.2Lowest
—
12.5Highest
—
On TownTapestry
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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.