Compare towns

Olean vs Fairlee vs Olean

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 kids (23.5% under 18).
Fairlee has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).

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.

MeasureOleanFairleeOlean
People
Population
13,738Highest
1,066Lowest
1,664
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39±2.6Lowest
about the U.S. average
56.2±8.7Highest
44% above U.S.
53.8±5.5
38% above U.S.
Fairlee 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
U.S.: 22%
12.2%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
15.6%±4.5
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
19.1%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
33.4%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
25.2%±5.1
U.S.: 17.2%
Fairlee 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
46.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
23.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.6%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
5.3%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.5%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Fairlee 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
37% below U.S.
$74,760±$10kHighest
7% below U.S.
$74,583±$20k
8% below U.S.
Fairlee and Olean 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.
$274,200±$39kHighest
18% below U.S.
$158,600±$17k
52% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$794±$52
44% below U.S.
$1,083±$242Highest
23% below U.S.
$666±$334Lowest
53% below U.S.
Fairlee and Olean 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
$5,617Highest
80% above U.S.
$4,027
29% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52%±9.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
89.2%±71.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
57.1%±25.5
U.S.: 51.1%
Fairlee 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%
14.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
16.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
55.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
77.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1972Highest
8 yrs older than U.S.
1962
18 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
14 minLowest
45% below U.S.
24 minHighest
8% below U.S.
19 min
30% below U.S.
Work from home
8.4%±2.6
U.S.: 15.1%
15%±7.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
5.8%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Fairlee 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 — #337 of 484 in NY
School district OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT Rivendell Interstate School District —
High school in town OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL 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.