Compare towns

Olean vs Mendon vs Olean vs Amsterdam

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Olean has the oldest population (median age 53.8).
Amsterdam has the most renters (47% rent).

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.

MeasureOleanMendonOleanAmsterdam
People
Population
13,738
1,113Lowest
1,664
18,166Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39±2.6Lowest
about the U.S. average
53.4±10.5
37% above U.S.
53.8±5.5Highest
38% above U.S.
39.5±1.2
about the U.S. average
Olean and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
23.5%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.6%±5.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
15.6%±4.5
U.S.: 22%
23%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
Olean and Amsterdam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.1%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
29%±1.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
25.2%±5.1
U.S.: 17.2%
19.5%±2.1
U.S.: 17.2%
Mendon 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
49.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
23.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
22.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.6%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
3.1%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
2.5%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4%±1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Amsterdam 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.
$100,524±$23kHighest
25% above U.S.
$74,583±$20k
8% below U.S.
$56,178±$8k
30% below U.S.
Mendon 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.
$357,000±$44kHighest
7% above U.S.
$158,600±$17k
52% below U.S.
$137,900±$11k
59% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$794±$52
44% below U.S.
$1,230±$651Highest
13% below U.S.
$666±$334Lowest
53% below U.S.
$1,006±$45
29% below U.S.
Mendon and Amsterdam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,130Lowest
about the U.S. average
$5,342Highest
71% above U.S.
$4,027
29% above U.S.
$4,369
40% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52%±9.1
U.S.: 51.1%
88.6%±42.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
57.1%±25.5
U.S.: 51.1%
45.4%±6.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Mendon 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
U.S.: 12.5%
8.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
16.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
20.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
55.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
92.2%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
77.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
53%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1962
18 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
14 minLowest
45% below U.S.
17 min
36% below U.S.
19 min
30% below U.S.
21 minHighest
22% below U.S.
Work from home
8.4%±2.6
U.S.: 15.1%
22.5%±8.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
5.8%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.5%±3.2
U.S.: 15.1%
Mendon and Amsterdam 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 — #337 of 484 in NY #474 of 484 in NY
School district OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT — — AMSTERDAM CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL — — None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.2
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On TownTapestry
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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.