Compare towns
Olean vs Sharon vs Mohawk vs Oswego
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).
Sharon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
Mohawk has the oldest population (median age 48.5).
Oswego has the most renters (49.8% rent).
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 | Sharon | Mohawk | Oswego |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 13,738 |
1,577Lowest |
2,520 |
17,033Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-11.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±2.6 about the U.S. average |
45.6±7.7 17% above U.S. |
48.5±4.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
35.7±1.6Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Mohawk and Sharon 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% |
21%±5 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Olean and Oswego 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% |
25.1%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±6.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sharon and Mohawk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$84,375±$17kHighest 5% above U.S. |
$72,813±$19k 10% below U.S. |
$53,172±$4k 34% below U.S. |
| Sharon and Mohawk 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. |
$346,700±$37kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$124,600±$28k 63% below U.S. |
$120,600±$7k 64% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$52 44% below U.S. |
$1,386±$155Highest about the U.S. average |
$705±$34Lowest 50% below U.S. |
$1,109±$72 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$5,903Highest 89% above U.S. |
$3,380 8% above U.S. |
$3,362 8% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
19.8%±17.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
14.3%±11.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.4%±7.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Oswego 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
20.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
50.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
19 min 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sharon and Mohawk 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 | — | — | #285 of 484 in NY |
| School district | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Sharon School District | — | OSWEGO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | — | OSWEGO HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Lowest |
— | — | 12.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.