What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Springfield has the most expensive homes ($192k 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	Springfield
People
Population	13,738Highest	9,084Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average	43.2±3.7Highest 11% above U.S.
	Springfield 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%	18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Olean and Springfield 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%	23.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Springfield 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%	23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Olean and Springfield 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.	$66,571±$13kHighest 18% below U.S.
	Springfield 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.	$192,400±$20kHighest 42% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S.	$963±$100Highest 32% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average	$4,807Highest 54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52%±9.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	49.6%±15.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Olean and Springfield 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%	14.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	67.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.	1958Highest 22 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	14 minLowest 45% below U.S.	27 minHighest 3% above U.S.
Work from home	8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	15.1%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Springfield 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	#64 of 70 in VT
School district	OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT	River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District
High school in town	OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	Springfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2Lowest	14.3Highest
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.