Compare towns
Olean vs Schroon vs Ilion
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).
Schroon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.7%).
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 | Schroon | Ilion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,738Highest |
1,897Lowest |
7,593 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6% NY: +4.2% |
+13.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-5.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 39±2.6Lowest about the NY average |
54±9.9Highest 36% above NY |
44.9±3.4 13% above NY |
| Schroon and Ilion 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% |
15.4%±5.1Lowest NY: 20.5% |
20.8%±4.9 NY: 20.5% |
| Olean and Ilion 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% |
30.6%±4.7Highest NY: 17.9% |
22.4%±4 NY: 17.9% |
| Schroon and Ilion 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% |
37.2%Highest NY: 40.2% |
22.8%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Highest NY: 7% |
2.4%±1.7 NY: 7% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest NY: 7% |
| Olean and Schroon 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 |
$69,955±$10kHighest 19% below NY |
$62,843±$16k 27% below NY |
| Schroon and Ilion 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 |
$272,800±$21kHighest 36% below NY |
$108,700±$16k 74% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$52Highest 51% below NY |
$516±$33Lowest 68% below NY |
$694±$228 57% below NY |
| Olean and Ilion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,130 52% below NY |
$3,291Highest 50% below NY |
$2,958Lowest 55% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52%±9.1Highest NY: 52.1% |
45.6%±36.9Lowest NY: 52.1% |
45.9%±15 NY: 52.1% |
| Olean and Ilion 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% |
7.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
14.5% NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
87.1%Highest NY: 54.3% |
66.2% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1971Highest 12 yrs newer than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 56% below NY |
17 min 48% below NY |
20 minHighest 39% below NY |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.6 NY: 14.9% |
33.7%±16.1Highest NY: 14.9% |
7.8%±4.3Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| 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 |
— | — |
| 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.