What stands out worked out from the figures below

Olean has the shortest commute (14 min average).

Lowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.9%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Olean	Lowell
People
Population	13,738Highest	1,070Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+0.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39±2.6Highest about the U.S. average	32.9±6.5Lowest 15% below U.S.
	Olean and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.5%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	30.7%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Lowell and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%	12.3%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	19.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Olean and Lowell 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 37% below U.S.	$57,404±$15kHighest 29% below U.S.
	Lowell 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 74% below U.S.	$183,400±$33kHighest 45% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S.	$945±$46Highest 33% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,130Highest about the U.S. average	$2,810Lowest 10% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52%±9.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	26.3%±92.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Olean and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	9.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.	1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	14 minLowest 45% below U.S.	55 minHighest 109% above U.S.
Work from home	8.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	7.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Olean and Lowell 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	—
School district	OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT	Lowell School District
High school in town	OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.