Compare towns
Olean vs Stratton vs Massena vs Johnson City
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 shortest commute (14 min average).
Stratton has the most expensive homes ($400k median).
Massena has the oldest population (median age 42.6).
Johnson City has the most people working from home (9.7%).
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 | Stratton | Massena | Johnson City |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 13,738 |
532Lowest |
10,238 |
14,940Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -7.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±2.6 about the U.S. average |
31.5±4.1Lowest 19% below U.S. |
42.6±4.7Highest 10% above U.S. |
40.7±3.4 5% above U.S. |
| Massena and Johnson City are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
28%±7.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.1%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Stratton and Olean 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% |
11.7%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Johnson City and Massena 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% |
33.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
9%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$122,708±$33kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$51,458±$7k 36% below U.S. |
$56,283±$4k 30% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$400,000±$50kHighest 20% above U.S. |
$94,400±$15k 72% below U.S. |
$117,100±$4k 65% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$52 44% below U.S. |
$1,208±$979Highest 15% below U.S. |
$722±$44Lowest 49% below U.S. |
$1,031±$66 27% below U.S. |
| Stratton and Johnson City are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,750Highest 52% above U.S. |
$3,218 3% above U.S. |
$3,982 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±69.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.8%±11.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.8%±10.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
0%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
24.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
19.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1954 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1949 31 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
18 min 32% below U.S. |
17 min 38% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Johnson City 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 | — | — | — |
| 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 | 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.