What stands out worked out from the figures below

Olean has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.6%).

Oswego has the most expensive homes ($121k median).

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	Oswego
People
Population	13,738Lowest	17,033Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.6%Highest NY: +4.2%	-6.7%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	39±2.6Highest about the NY average	35.7±1.6Lowest 10% below NY
	Olean and Oswego 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%	21.9%±2.6Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Olean and Oswego are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.1%±2.5Highest NY: 17.9%	18.3%±2.1Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Olean and Oswego 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%	26.1%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.1Lowest NY: 7%	10.1%±2Highest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$51,261±$7kLowest 40% below NY	$53,172±$4kHighest 38% below NY
	Oswego 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	$120,600±$7kHighest 72% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$794±$52Lowest 51% below NY	$1,109±$72Highest 32% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,130Lowest 52% below NY	$3,362Highest 49% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52%±9.1Lowest NY: 52.1%	60.4%±7.4Highest NY: 52.1%
	Oswego 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%	20.6%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	55.1%Highest NY: 54.3%	50.2%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938 21 yrs older than NY	1938 21 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	14 minLowest 56% below NY	19 minHighest 43% below NY
Work from home	8.4%±2.6Lowest NY: 14.9%	8.6%±2.9Highest NY: 14.9%
	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	OSWEGO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	OSWEGO HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2Lowest	12.5Highest
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.