Compare towns
Olean vs Hadley vs Worcester vs Oswego
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).
Hadley has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Worcester has the most expensive homes ($271k median).
Oswego has the most renters (49.8% rent).
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 | Hadley | Worcester | Oswego |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 13,738 |
2,074 |
831Lowest |
17,033Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±2.6 about the U.S. average |
54.1±3Highest 39% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
35.7±1.6Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hadley and Worcester 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% |
25%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Oswego and Worcester 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. |
$73,750±$32k 9% below U.S. |
$73,833±$18kHighest 9% below U.S. |
$53,172±$4k 34% below U.S. |
| Worcester and Hadley 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. |
$194,200±$30k 42% below U.S. |
$271,100±$27kHighest 19% below U.S. |
$120,600±$7k 64% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$900±$293 36% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136 28% below U.S. |
$1,109±$72Highest 22% below U.S. |
| Oswego and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,130 about the U.S. average |
$2,375Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$4,421Highest 42% above U.S. |
$3,362 8% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.4%±7.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Oswego 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% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
20.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
50.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
19 min 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.2%±23.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hadley and Worcester 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 |
| School district | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | OSWEGO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — | None in town | OSWEGO HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Lowest |
— | — | 12.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.