Compare towns
Olean vs Oswego vs Chenango Bridge vs Johnson City
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).
Oswego has the most renters (49.8% rent).
Chenango Bridge has the highest household income ($96k).
Johnson City has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
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 | Oswego | Chenango Bridge | Johnson City |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 13,738 |
17,033Highest |
3,116Lowest |
14,940 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6% NY: +4.2% |
-6.7%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
0% NY: +4.2% |
+1.1%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 39±2.6 about the NY average |
35.7±1.6Lowest 10% below NY |
35.9±4.8 10% below NY |
40.7±3.4Highest about the NY average |
| Johnson City and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±2.9 NY: 20.5% |
21.9%±2.6 NY: 20.5% |
27.3%±6.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
18.1%±2.6Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Chenango Bridge 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 NY: 17.9% |
18.3%±2.1Lowest NY: 17.9% |
23.5%±3.9Highest NY: 17.9% |
22.4%±2.6 NY: 17.9% |
| Chenango Bridge and Johnson City are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.9% NY: 40.2% |
26.1%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
38.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
29.6% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 NY: 7% |
10.1%±2Highest NY: 7% |
3.4%±1.7Lowest NY: 7% |
9%±2.2 NY: 7% |
| Oswego and Johnson City 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 |
$53,172±$4k 38% below NY |
$96,250±$27kHighest 12% above NY |
$56,283±$4k 35% below NY |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $86,100±$6kLowest 80% below NY |
$120,600±$7k 72% below NY |
$168,200±$15kHighest 60% below NY |
$117,100±$4k 72% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$52Lowest 51% below NY |
$1,109±$72 32% below NY |
$1,134±$122Highest 30% below NY |
$1,031±$66 36% below NY |
| Chenango Bridge and Oswego 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 |
$3,362 49% below NY |
$3,661 44% below NY |
$3,982Highest 40% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52%±9.1Lowest NY: 52.1% |
60.4%±7.4 NY: 52.1% |
73.2%±100Highest NY: 52.1% |
57.8%±10.9 NY: 52.1% |
| Chenango Bridge 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 NY: 14% |
20.6% NY: 14% |
5.6%Lowest NY: 14% |
19.6% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% NY: 54.3% |
50.2%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
88.4%Highest NY: 54.3% |
52.3% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1959Highest same as NY |
1949 10 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 56% below NY |
19 min 43% below NY |
24 minHighest 28% below NY |
17 min 49% below NY |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
8.6%±2.9 NY: 14.9% |
11.2%±7.8Highest NY: 14.9% |
9.7%±3.4 NY: 14.9% |
| Chenango Bridge and Johnson City 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 | 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.