What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Rome has the most expensive homes ($154k 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	Rome
People
Population	13,738Lowest	31,795Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.6%Highest NY: +4.2%	-4.7%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	39±2.6Lowest about the NY average	40.7±1.9Highest about the NY average
	Rome 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 NY: 20.5%	19.5%±2Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Olean and Rome 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%	19.8%±1.7Highest NY: 17.9%
	Rome 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 NY: 40.2%	20.8%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.1Highest NY: 7%	3.3%±0.7Lowest NY: 7%
	Olean and Rome 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	$59,925±$3kHighest 30% below NY
	Rome 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	$154,400±$6kHighest 64% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$794±$52Lowest 51% below NY	$909±$59Highest 44% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,130Lowest 52% below NY	$4,212Highest 36% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52%±9.1Highest NY: 52.1%	45.6%±6.7Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Olean and Rome 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%	18.1%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	55.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%	56.6%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY	1955Highest 4 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	14 minLowest 56% below NY	18 minHighest 45% below NY
Work from home	8.4%±2.6Lowest NY: 14.9%	12.8%±2.6Highest NY: 14.9%
	Rome 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	#323 of 484 in NY
School district	OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT	ROME CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	ROME FREE ACADEMY
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2Lowest	13.2Highest
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.