Compare towns
Olean vs Ilion vs Sangerfield
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 most homeowners (66.2%).
Sangerfield has the most people working from home (14.5%).
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 | Sangerfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,738Highest |
7,593 |
2,431Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-5.1% NY: +4.2% |
-9.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 39±2.6Lowest about the NY average |
44.9±3.4 13% above NY |
47.2±4.9Highest 19% above NY |
| Sangerfield 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% |
19.2%±3.5Lowest 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% |
22.2%±2.7 NY: 17.9% |
| Ilion and Sangerfield 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% |
25.9% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Highest NY: 7% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest NY: 7% |
2.3%±1 NY: 7% |
| Olean and Sangerfield 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 |
$62,843±$16k 27% below NY |
$91,563±$14kHighest 7% above NY |
| Sangerfield 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 |
$169,500±$11kHighest 60% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$52 51% below NY |
$694±$228Lowest 57% below NY |
$797±$81Highest 51% below NY |
| Sangerfield and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,130Highest 52% below NY |
$2,958Lowest 55% below NY |
$3,075 53% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52%±9.1Highest NY: 52.1% |
45.9%±15 NY: 52.1% |
22.9%±10Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Olean and Ilion 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% |
4.2%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
66.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
65.2% 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 |
24 minHighest 26% below NY |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.6 NY: 14.9% |
7.8%±4.3Lowest NY: 14.9% |
14.5%±3.3Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #337 of 484 in NY | — | — |
| School district | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | WATERVILLE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — | WATERVILLE JR/SR HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
— | 10.6Lowest |
| 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.