Compare towns
Olean vs Orleans vs Gerry vs Oswego
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).
Orleans has the most expensive homes ($156k median).
Gerry has the oldest population (median age 52.4).
Oswego has the most renters (49.8% 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.
| Measure | Olean | Orleans | Gerry | Oswego |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 13,738 |
809Lowest |
1,668 |
17,033Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±2.6 about the U.S. average |
41.7±5.8 7% above U.S. |
52.4±5.7Highest 35% above U.S. |
35.7±1.6Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Gerry and Orleans 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% |
17.9%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Olean and Oswego 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% |
19.7%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.9%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$57,159±$10k 29% below U.S. |
$68,667±$12kHighest 15% below U.S. |
$53,172±$4k 34% below U.S. |
| Gerry and Orleans 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. |
$156,300±$18kHighest 53% below U.S. |
$119,200±$10k 64% below U.S. |
$120,600±$7k 64% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$810±$94 43% below U.S. |
$1,138±$260Highest 19% below U.S. |
$1,109±$72 22% below U.S. |
| Gerry and Oswego are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,130 about the U.S. average |
$3,019 3% below U.S. |
$2,606Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$3,362Highest 8% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.3%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.2%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.4%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gerry and Oswego 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% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
20.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
50.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Highest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
19 min 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.3%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Oswego 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 | — | — | #285 of 484 in NY |
| School district | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | CASSADAGA VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | OSWEGO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — | CASSADAGA VALLEY MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL | OSWEGO HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
— | 8.7Lowest |
12.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.