What stands out worked out from the figures below

Olean has the most kids (23.5% under 18).

Herkimer has the most expensive homes ($136k 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	Herkimer
People
Population	13,738Highest	9,534Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.6%Highest NY: +4.2%	-6%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	39±2.6Lowest about the NY average	45.6±3.4Highest 15% above NY
Kids under 18	23.5%±2.9Highest NY: 20.5%	16.2%±3.4Lowest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	19.1%±2.5Lowest NY: 17.9%	21.5%±3.2Highest NY: 17.9%
	Herkimer 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%Highest NY: 40.2%	17.9%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.1Lowest NY: 7%	7.1%±1.8Highest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$51,261±$7kLowest 40% below NY	$56,287±$14kHighest 35% below NY
	Herkimer 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 80% below NY	$136,300±$22kHighest 68% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$794±$52Lowest 51% below NY	$820±$74Highest 49% below NY
	Herkimer 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	$3,453Highest 48% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52%±9.1Highest NY: 52.1%	45.9%±15.8Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Olean and Herkimer 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%	21.7%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	55.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%	59.6%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY	1944Highest 15 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	14 minLowest 56% below NY	22 minHighest 34% below NY
Work from home	8.4%±2.6 NY: 14.9%	8.4%±5.3 NY: 14.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#337 of 484 in NY	#363 of 484 in NY
School district	OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT	HERKIMER CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	HERKIMER HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2Highest	11.0Lowest
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.