Compare towns
Olean vs Leon vs Randolph 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%).
Leon has the most kids (42.2% under 18).
Randolph has the highest household income ($77k).
Oswego has the most expensive homes ($121k 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 | Leon | Randolph | Oswego |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 13,738 |
1,459Lowest |
2,156 |
17,033Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-8.9%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-5.1% NY: +4.2% |
-6.7% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 39±2.6 about the NY average |
26.4±5.3Lowest 34% below NY |
49.7±2.5Highest 25% above NY |
35.7±1.6 10% below NY |
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±2.9 NY: 20.5% |
42.2%±15Highest NY: 20.5% |
15.8%±3.7Lowest NY: 20.5% |
21.9%±2.6 NY: 20.5% |
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±2.5 NY: 17.9% |
10.5%±4Lowest NY: 17.9% |
22.2%±1.9Highest NY: 17.9% |
18.3%±2.1 NY: 17.9% |
| Randolph 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% |
11.2%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
24.4% NY: 40.2% |
26.1% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 NY: 7% |
1.1%±1.4 NY: 7% |
0.6%±0.9Lowest NY: 7% |
10.1%±2Highest NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $51,261±$7kLowest 40% below NY |
$56,048±$11k 35% below NY |
$77,440±$13kHighest 10% below NY |
$53,172±$4k 38% below NY |
| Randolph and Leon 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 |
$103,000±$23k 76% below NY |
$110,100±$16k 74% below NY |
$120,600±$7kHighest 72% below NY |
| Oswego and Randolph 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 |
$960±$282 41% below NY |
$690±$42Lowest 57% below NY |
$1,109±$72Highest 32% below NY |
| Oswego and Leon 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 |
$3,259 50% below NY |
$2,763Lowest 58% below NY |
$3,362Highest 49% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52%±9.1 NY: 52.1% |
0%±100Lowest NY: 52.1% |
43.4%±30.1 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% |
21.8% NY: 14% |
9.1%Lowest NY: 14% |
20.6% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% NY: 54.3% |
86.4%Highest NY: 54.3% |
85.1% NY: 54.3% |
50.2%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1980Highest 21 yrs newer than NY |
1945 14 yrs older than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 56% below NY |
35 minHighest 7% above NY |
28 min 13% below NY |
19 min 43% below NY |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
15.2%±10.3Highest NY: 14.9% |
8.5%±5.9 NY: 14.9% |
8.6%±2.9 NY: 14.9% |
| Leon 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 | — | — | #285 of 484 in NY |
| School district | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | RANDOLPH CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | OSWEGO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — | RANDOLPH SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | OSWEGO HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
— | 9.6Lowest |
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.