Compare towns
Olean vs Ilion vs Herkimer
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%).
Ilion has the highest household income ($63k).
Herkimer has the most expensive homes ($133k 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.
| Measure | Olean | Ilion | Herkimer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,738Highest |
7,593 |
7,566Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-5.1% NY: +4.2% |
-6.6%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 39±2.6Lowest about the NY average |
44.9±3.4 13% above NY |
45.4±3.4Highest 14% above NY |
| Herkimer 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% |
14.6%±3.8Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Olean and Ilion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±2.5Lowest NY: 17.9% |
22.4%±4Highest NY: 17.9% |
20.7%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
| Ilion and Herkimer 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% NY: 40.2% |
15.9%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 NY: 7% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest NY: 7% |
8.4%±2.2Highest NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $51,261±$7k 40% below NY |
$62,843±$16kHighest 27% below NY |
$48,529±$16kLowest 44% below NY |
| Ilion 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 |
$108,700±$16k 74% below NY |
$133,200±$29kHighest 69% below NY |
| Herkimer and Ilion 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 |
$821±$82Highest 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 | $3,130 52% below NY |
$2,958Lowest 55% below NY |
$3,607Highest 45% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52%±9.1Highest NY: 52.1% |
45.9%±15Lowest NY: 52.1% |
48.7%±16.7 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% |
14.5%Lowest NY: 14% |
26.4% NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% NY: 54.3% |
66.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
52.6%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 |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 56% below NY |
20 min 39% below NY |
20 minHighest 38% below NY |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.6Highest NY: 14.9% |
7.8%±4.3Lowest NY: 14.9% |
8.4%±6.8Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #337 of 484 in NY | — | — |
| School district | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | — |
| High school in town | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.