What stands out worked out from the figures below

Olean has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.6%).

Throop has the most expensive homes ($186k 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	Throop
People
Population	13,738Highest	1,651Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.6%Highest NY: +4.2%	-8%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	39±2.6Lowest about the NY average	52.7±3.1Highest 32% above NY
Kids under 18	23.5%±2.9Highest NY: 20.5%	15.4%±3.5Lowest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	19.1%±2.5Lowest NY: 17.9%	23.3%±2.6Highest NY: 17.9%
	Throop 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 NY: 40.2%	28.1%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.1Highest NY: 7%	3.1%±1.6Lowest NY: 7%
	Olean and Throop 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	$90,268±$15kHighest 5% above NY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$86,100±$6kLowest 80% below NY	$185,900±$20kHighest 56% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$794±$52Lowest 51% below NY	$1,099±$88Highest 32% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,130Lowest 52% below NY	$4,261Highest 35% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52%±9.1Highest NY: 52.1%	51.4%±69.8Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Olean and Throop 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%	5.4%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	55.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%	93.3%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY	1964Highest 5 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	14 minLowest 56% below NY	26 minHighest 19% below NY
Work from home	8.4%±2.6Highest NY: 14.9%	7.5%±3.3Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Olean and Throop 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

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.