Compare towns
Olean vs Norwich vs Massena
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 shortest commute (14 min average).
Norwich has the most expensive homes ($638k median).
Massena has the oldest population (median age 42.6).
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.
| Measure | Olean | Norwich | Massena |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,738Highest |
3,640Lowest |
10,238 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
42.6±4.7Highest 10% above U.S. |
| Massena and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Norwich 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. |
$140,313±$12kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$51,458±$7k 36% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
$94,400±$15k 72% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$52 44% below U.S. |
$1,460±$322Highest 3% above U.S. |
$722±$44Lowest 49% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,218 3% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.8%±11.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
24.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1954 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
19 minHighest 28% below U.S. |
18 min 32% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.2%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #337 of 484 in NY | #1 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Norwich 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 |
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.