What stands out worked out from the figures below

Olean has the shortest commute (14 min average).

North Collins has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.2%).

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.

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

Measure	Olean	North Collins
People
Population	13,738Highest	1,081Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.6%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+1.2%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	39±2.6Lowest about the NY average	40.6±2.8Highest about the NY average
	North Collins and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.5%±2.9Lowest NY: 20.5%	24.1%±3.3Highest NY: 20.5%
	North Collins 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 NY: 17.9%	13%±3.3Lowest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29.9%Highest NY: 40.2%	23.7%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.1Lowest NY: 7%	3.9%±2.2Highest NY: 7%
	North Collins 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	$66,607±$24kHighest 23% below NY
	North Collins 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	$123,100±$15kHighest 71% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$794±$52Lowest 51% below NY	$853±$280Highest 47% below NY
	North Collins and Olean 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	$4,020Highest 39% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52%±9.1Highest NY: 52.1%	35.4%±15.7Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Olean and North Collins 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%	13.8%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	55.1%Highest NY: 54.3%	54.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY	1946Highest 13 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	14 minLowest 56% below NY	24 minHighest 27% below NY
Work from home	8.4%±2.6Lowest NY: 14.9%	9.7%±6.4Highest NY: 14.9%
	North Collins and Olean 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	#411 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.