Compare towns

Olean vs Mohawk vs Olean vs Amsterdam

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 the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Olean has the most expensive homes ($159k median).
Amsterdam has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.2%).

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.

MeasureOleanMohawkOleanAmsterdam
People
Population
13,738
2,520
1,664Lowest
18,166Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.6%
NY: +4.2%
-11.6%Lowest
NY: +4.2%
-4.2%
NY: +4.2%
-2.2%Highest
NY: +4.2%
Median age
39±2.6Lowest
about the NY average
48.5±4.8
22% above NY
53.8±5.5Highest
35% above NY
39.5±1.2
about the NY average
Olean and Mohawk 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%
19.6%±5.2
NY: 20.5%
15.6%±4.5Lowest
NY: 20.5%
23%±2.3
NY: 20.5%
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
NY: 17.9%
22%±6.1
NY: 17.9%
25.2%±5.1Highest
NY: 17.9%
19.5%±2.1
NY: 17.9%
Olean and Mohawk 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%
23.5%
NY: 40.2%
23.3%
NY: 40.2%
22.5%Lowest
NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.6%±1.1
NY: 7%
1.9%±1.5Lowest
NY: 7%
2.5%±1.5
NY: 7%
4%±1Highest
NY: 7%
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
40% below NY
$72,813±$19k
15% below NY
$74,583±$20kHighest
13% below NY
$56,178±$8k
35% below NY
Olean and Mohawk 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
$124,600±$28k
71% below NY
$158,600±$17kHighest
63% below NY
$137,900±$11k
67% below NY
Olean and Amsterdam 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
$705±$34
57% below NY
$666±$334Lowest
59% below NY
$1,006±$45Highest
38% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,130Lowest
52% below NY
$3,380
49% below NY
$4,027
39% below NY
$4,369Highest
34% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52%±9.1
NY: 52.1%
14.3%±11.9Lowest
NY: 52.1%
57.1%±25.5Highest
NY: 52.1%
45.4%±6.8
NY: 52.1%
Olean 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%
15.1%Lowest
NY: 14%
16.3%
NY: 14%
20.2%
NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
55.1%
NY: 54.3%
71.7%
NY: 54.3%
77.9%Highest
NY: 54.3%
53%Lowest
NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
21 yrs older than NY
1938Lowest
21 yrs older than NY
1962Highest
3 yrs newer than NY
1938Lowest
21 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
14 minLowest
56% below NY
23 minHighest
30% below NY
19 min
43% below NY
21 min
37% below NY
Work from home
8.4%±2.6
NY: 14.9%
9.9%±4.4
NY: 14.9%
5.8%±4.7Lowest
NY: 14.9%
10.5%±3.2Highest
NY: 14.9%
Amsterdam and Mohawk 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
— — —
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.