Compare towns
Olean vs Herkimer vs Massena vs Oswego
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%).
Herkimer has the most expensive homes ($136k 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 | Herkimer | Massena | Oswego |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 13,738 |
9,534Lowest |
10,238 |
17,033Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-6% NY: +4.2% |
-7.2%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-6.7% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 39±2.6 about the NY average |
45.6±3.4Highest 15% above NY |
42.6±4.7 7% above NY |
35.7±1.6Lowest 10% below NY |
| Herkimer 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% |
16.2%±3.4Lowest NY: 20.5% |
19.4%±3.4 NY: 20.5% |
21.9%±2.6 NY: 20.5% |
| 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 NY: 17.9% |
21.5%±3.2Highest NY: 17.9% |
20.4%±3.3 NY: 17.9% |
18.3%±2.1Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Herkimer 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% |
17.9%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
25.1% NY: 40.2% |
26.1% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 NY: 7% |
7.1%±1.8 NY: 7% |
2.9%±1.4Lowest NY: 7% |
10.1%±2Highest NY: 7% |
| Oswego and Herkimer 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 |
$56,287±$14kHighest 35% below NY |
$51,458±$7k 40% below NY |
$53,172±$4k 38% below NY |
| Herkimer and Oswego 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 |
$94,400±$15k 78% below NY |
$120,600±$7k 72% below NY |
| Herkimer and Oswego are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$52 51% below NY |
$820±$74 49% below NY |
$722±$44Lowest 55% below NY |
$1,109±$72Highest 32% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,130Lowest 52% below NY |
$3,453Highest 48% below NY |
$3,218 51% below NY |
$3,362 49% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52%±9.1 NY: 52.1% |
45.9%±15.8Lowest NY: 52.1% |
57.8%±11.4 NY: 52.1% |
60.4%±7.4Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Oswego and Massena 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% NY: 14% |
24.3% NY: 14% |
20.6%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% NY: 54.3% |
59.6%Highest NY: 54.3% |
55.4% NY: 54.3% |
50.2%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1944 15 yrs older than NY |
1954Highest 5 yrs older than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 56% below NY |
22 minHighest 34% below NY |
18 min 45% below NY |
19 min 43% below NY |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.6 NY: 14.9% |
8.4%±5.3 NY: 14.9% |
5.2%±2.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
8.6%±2.9Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Oswego 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 | #363 of 484 in NY | — | #285 of 484 in NY |
| School district | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | HERKIMER CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | OSWEGO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | HERKIMER HIGH SCHOOL | — | OSWEGO HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
11.0Lowest |
— | 12.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.