What stands out worked out from the figures below

Olean has the most people working from home (8.4%).

Massena has the most expensive homes ($94k 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.

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

Measure	Olean	Massena
People
Population	13,738Highest	10,238Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.6%Highest NY: +4.2%	-7.2%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	39±2.6Lowest about the NY average	42.6±4.7Highest 7% above NY
	Massena and Olean 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%	19.4%±3.4Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Olean and Massena 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%	20.4%±3.3Highest NY: 17.9%
	Massena 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%	25.1%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.1Highest NY: 7%	2.9%±1.4Lowest NY: 7%
	Olean and Massena 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	$51,458±$7kHighest 40% below NY
	Massena 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	$94,400±$15kHighest 78% below NY
	Massena and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$794±$52Highest 51% below NY	$722±$44Lowest 55% below NY
	Olean and Massena are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,130Lowest 52% below NY	$3,218Highest 51% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52%±9.1Lowest NY: 52.1%	57.8%±11.4Highest NY: 52.1%
	Massena 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%	24.3%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	55.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%	55.4%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY	1954Highest 5 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	14 minLowest 56% below NY	18 minHighest 45% below NY
Work from home	8.4%±2.6Highest NY: 14.9%	5.2%±2.6Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Olean and Massena 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	—
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

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.