Compare towns

Olean vs Panton vs Waltham vs Wright

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).
Panton has the most expensive homes ($438k median).
Waltham has the oldest population (median age 60.8).

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.

MeasureOleanPantonWalthamWright
People
Population
13,738Highest
690
452Lowest
1,739
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
-1.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39±2.6Lowest
about the U.S. average
42.7±3.8
10% above U.S.
60.8±7.3Highest
56% above U.S.
51.4±4.7
32% above U.S.
Waltham and Wright 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%
24.9%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
12.8%±7.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
16.7%±3.1
U.S.: 22%
Panton 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%
16.7%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
45.4%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.4%±1.9
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
29.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
35.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
39%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
24.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.6%±1.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.3%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
3.1%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
2.1%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Olean and Waltham 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.
$86,667±$10k
7% above U.S.
$97,500±$14kHighest
21% above U.S.
$86,250±$13k
7% above U.S.
Waltham and Panton 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.
$438,000±$40kHighest
32% above U.S.
$329,700±$51k
about the U.S. average
$242,000±$36k
27% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$794±$52Lowest
44% below U.S.
$1,410±$130Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,096±$113
22% below U.S.
$953±$79
33% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,130Lowest
about the U.S. average
$6,695Highest
115% above U.S.
$5,714
83% above U.S.
$5,279
69% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52%±9.1
U.S.: 51.1%
61%±39Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
29.2%±58.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
37.6%±16.4
U.S.: 51.1%
Panton 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%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
55.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
83.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
14 minLowest
45% below U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
28 min
5% above U.S.
33 minHighest
25% above U.S.
Work from home
8.4%±2.6
U.S.: 15.1%
26.7%±8.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.6%±5.7
U.S.: 15.1%
5.9%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Panton and Waltham 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 — — —
School district OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT — — —
High school in town OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL — — —
Students per teacherat that high school
12.2
— — —
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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.