Compare towns

Olean vs Sutton vs Oswego 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 most affordable homes ($86k median).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($231k median).
Oswego has the youngest population (median age 35.7).
Johnson City has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).

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.

MeasureOleanSuttonOswegoJohnson City
People
Population
13,738
790Lowest
17,033Highest
14,940
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
-11.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-6.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39±2.6
about the U.S. average
46.6±5.7Highest
20% above U.S.
35.7±1.6Lowest
8% below U.S.
40.7±3.4
5% above U.S.
Sutton 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%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.3%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.9%±2.6
U.S.: 22%
18.1%±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%
21.6%±2.7
U.S.: 17.2%
18.3%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.4%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Johnson City and Sutton 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%
32.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
26.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
29.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.6%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
2.3%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
10.1%±2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
9%±2.2
U.S.: 6.4%
Oswego and Johnson City 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.
$71,250±$18kHighest
12% below U.S.
$53,172±$4k
34% below U.S.
$56,283±$4k
30% below U.S.
Sutton and Johnson City 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.
$231,100±$41kHighest
31% below U.S.
$120,600±$7k
64% below U.S.
$117,100±$4k
65% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$794±$52Lowest
44% below U.S.
—
$1,109±$72Highest
22% below U.S.
$1,031±$66
27% below U.S.
Oswego 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
$3,975
27% above U.S.
$3,362
8% above U.S.
$3,982Highest
28% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52%±9.1
U.S.: 51.1%
37.8%±31.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
60.4%±7.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
57.8%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
Oswego and Johnson City 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%
12.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
20.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
19.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
55.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
85%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
50.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
52.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1949
31 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
14 minLowest
45% below U.S.
30 minHighest
12% above U.S.
19 min
30% below U.S.
17 min
38% below U.S.
Work from home
8.4%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.6%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
8.6%±2.9
U.S.: 15.1%
9.7%±3.4
U.S.: 15.1%
Sutton and Johnson City 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 Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 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.