What stands out worked out from the figures below

Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).

Ludlow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).

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	Ludlow
People
Population	13,738Highest	1,990Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average	52.2±6.2Highest 34% above U.S.
Kids under 18	23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22%	14.1%±6Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	19.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	31.1%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Ludlow and Olean 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.	$54,885±$14kHighest 32% below U.S.
	Ludlow 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.	$370,200±$46kHighest 11% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S.	$1,112±$151Highest 21% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average	$4,890Highest 57% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52%±9.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	45.2%±25.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Olean and Ludlow 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%	5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	71.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	14 minLowest 45% below U.S.	20 minHighest 24% below U.S.
Work from home	8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21.3%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#337 of 484 in NY	—
School district	OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT	Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83
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.