What stands out worked out from the figures below

Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).

Pownal has the most expensive homes ($257k 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	Pownal
People
Population	13,738Highest	3,265Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-7.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average	49±9.1Highest 26% above U.S.
	Pownal and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22%	16.4%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Olean and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	27.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Pownal 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.3%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Olean and Pownal 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.	$64,163±$21kHighest 21% below U.S.
	Pownal 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 74% below U.S.	$256,600±$32kHighest 23% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S.	$944±$139Highest 33% below U.S.
	Pownal and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average	$3,560Highest 14% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52%±9.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	48.4%±18.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Olean and Pownal 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%	8.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.	1969Highest 11 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	14 minLowest 45% below U.S.	21 minHighest 20% below U.S.
Work from home	8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	16.4%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Pownal 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	#67 of 70 in VT
School district	OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT	Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87
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

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.