Compare towns
Olean vs Ilion vs German Flatts 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%).
German Flatts has the highest household income ($68k).
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 | Ilion | German Flatts | Oswego |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 13,738 |
7,593Lowest |
12,134 |
17,033Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-5.1% NY: +4.2% |
-7.5%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-6.7% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 39±2.6 about the NY average |
44.9±3.4 13% above NY |
46.1±2.4Highest 16% above NY |
35.7±1.6Lowest 10% below NY |
| German Flatts and Ilion 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% |
20.8%±4.9 NY: 20.5% |
20.1%±3.3Lowest 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% |
22.4%±4 NY: 17.9% |
23.6%±3Highest NY: 17.9% |
18.3%±2.1Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| German Flatts and Ilion 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% |
22.8%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
24.1% NY: 40.2% |
26.1% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 NY: 7% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest NY: 7% |
1.6%±0.8Lowest NY: 7% |
10.1%±2Highest NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $51,261±$7kLowest 40% below NY |
$62,843±$16k 27% below NY |
$67,791±$9kHighest 21% below NY |
$53,172±$4k 38% below NY |
| German Flatts and Ilion 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 |
$108,700±$16k 74% below NY |
$119,800±$12k 72% below NY |
$120,600±$7kHighest 72% below NY |
| Oswego and German Flatts 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 |
$694±$228Lowest 57% below NY |
$728±$110 55% below NY |
$1,109±$72Highest 32% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,130 52% below NY |
$2,958Lowest 55% below NY |
$3,091 53% below NY |
$3,362Highest 49% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52%±9.1 NY: 52.1% |
45.9%±15 NY: 52.1% |
40.8%±11.9Lowest NY: 52.1% |
60.4%±7.4Highest NY: 52.1% |
| 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 NY: 14% |
14.5% NY: 14% |
13.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
20.6% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% NY: 54.3% |
66.2% NY: 54.3% |
70.8%Highest NY: 54.3% |
50.2%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938 21 yrs older than NY |
1938 21 yrs older than NY |
1938 21 yrs older than NY |
1938 21 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 56% below NY |
20 min 39% below NY |
21 minHighest 35% below NY |
19 min 43% below NY |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.6 NY: 14.9% |
7.8%±4.3Lowest NY: 14.9% |
8.7%±2.9Highest NY: 14.9% |
8.6%±2.9 NY: 14.9% |
| German Flatts and Oswego 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 | — | #224 of 484 in NY | #285 of 484 in NY |
| School district | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | CENTRAL VALLEY CSD AT ILION-MOHAWK | OSWEGO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — | CENTRAL VALLEY ACADEMY | OSWEGO HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Lowest |
— | 12.7Highest |
12.5 |
| 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.