Compare towns
Olean vs Esperance vs Massena
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%).
Esperance has the most expensive homes ($196k 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 | Esperance | Massena |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,738Highest |
1,794Lowest |
10,238 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-13%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-7.2% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 39±2.6Lowest about the NY average |
51.9±5Highest 30% above NY |
42.6±4.7 7% above NY |
| Esperance 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 NY: 20.5% |
14.7%±3.6Lowest NY: 20.5% |
19.4%±3.4 NY: 20.5% |
| 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 NY: 17.9% |
22.1%±3.8Highest NY: 17.9% |
20.4%±3.3 NY: 17.9% |
| Esperance 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%Highest NY: 40.2% |
24.1%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
25.1% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 NY: 7% |
4.2%±3.4Highest NY: 7% |
2.9%±1.4Lowest NY: 7% |
| Esperance 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 |
$76,058±$11kHighest 12% below NY |
$51,458±$7k 40% below NY |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $86,100±$6kLowest 80% below NY |
$196,200±$45kHighest 54% below NY |
$94,400±$15k 78% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$52 51% below NY |
$1,075±$470Highest 34% below NY |
$722±$44Lowest 55% below NY |
| Esperance 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 |
$4,005Highest 39% below NY |
$3,218 51% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52%±9.1Lowest NY: 52.1% |
54.8%±15.1 NY: 52.1% |
57.8%±11.4Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Massena and Esperance 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% |
8.8%Lowest NY: 14% |
24.3% NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
77.5%Highest NY: 54.3% |
55.4% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1957Highest 2 yrs older than NY |
1954 5 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 56% below NY |
27 minHighest 17% below NY |
18 min 45% below NY |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.6 NY: 14.9% |
10.2%±5.7Highest NY: 14.9% |
5.2%±2.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Esperance 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 | — | — |
| School district | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | — |
| High school in town | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.