What stands out worked out from the figures below

Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).

Eden has the most expensive homes ($263k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Olean	Eden
People
Population	13,738Highest	7,546Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.6%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-1.5%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	39±2.6Lowest about the NY average	42.6±5.3Highest 7% above NY
	Eden 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%	22.4%±3.8Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Olean and Eden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.1%±2.5Lowest NY: 17.9%	19.7%±3.2Highest NY: 17.9%
	Eden and Olean 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 NY: 40.2%	34.8%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.1Lowest NY: 7%	4.9%±1.7Highest NY: 7%
	Eden 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 40% below NY	$97,262±$11kHighest 13% above NY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$86,100±$6kLowest 80% below NY	$263,100±$28kHighest 38% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$794±$52Lowest 51% below NY	$1,035±$427Highest 36% below NY
	Eden and Olean 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	$5,680Highest 14% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52%±9.1Lowest NY: 52.1%	53.4%±26.1Highest NY: 52.1%
	Eden 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%	9.7%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	55.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%	89.7%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY	1960Highest 1 yr newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	14 minLowest 56% below NY	25 minHighest 23% below NY
Work from home	8.4%±2.6Highest NY: 14.9%	8.1%±3.6Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Olean and Eden 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	#147 of 484 in NY
School district	OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT	EDEN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	EDEN MIDDLE & HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2Highest	10.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.