Compare towns
Olean vs Putnam vs Olean
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).
Putnam has the most expensive homes ($266k median).
Olean has the oldest population (median age 53.8).
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.
| Measure | Olean | Putnam | Olean |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,738Highest |
540Lowest |
1,664 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-6.9%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-4.2% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 39±2.6Lowest about the NY average |
53.6±6.4 35% above NY |
53.8±5.5Highest 35% above NY |
| Olean and Putnam 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% |
17.4%±5.2 NY: 20.5% |
15.6%±4.5Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Olean and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±2.5Lowest NY: 17.9% |
35.6%±3.4Highest NY: 17.9% |
25.2%±5.1 NY: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.9% NY: 40.2% |
31.4%Highest NY: 40.2% |
23.3%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Highest NY: 7% |
2.8%±1.9 NY: 7% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest NY: 7% |
| Olean and Putnam 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 |
$92,344±$14kHighest 7% above NY |
$74,583±$20k 13% below NY |
| Putnam 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 |
$266,200±$48kHighest 37% below NY |
$158,600±$17k 63% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$52Highest 51% below NY |
— | $666±$334Lowest 59% below NY |
| Olean and Olean 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 |
$3,674 44% below NY |
$4,027Highest 39% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52%±9.1 NY: 52.1% |
0%±100Lowest NY: 52.1% |
57.1%±25.5Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Olean 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% |
7.2%Lowest NY: 14% |
16.3% NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
95.9%Highest NY: 54.3% |
77.9% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1971Highest 12 yrs newer than NY |
1962 3 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 56% below NY |
21 minHighest 34% below NY |
19 min 43% below NY |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.6 NY: 14.9% |
8.6%±5.7Highest NY: 14.9% |
5.8%±4.7Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Putnam 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 | — | #337 of 484 in NY |
| School district | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| 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 | 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.