Compare towns
Olean vs Townshend vs Worcester vs Massena
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 kids (23.5% under 18).
Townshend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Worcester has the most homeowners (85.9%).
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 | Townshend | Worcester | Massena |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 13,738Highest |
1,538 |
831Lowest |
10,238 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
55.6±9.6Highest 43% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
42.6±4.7 10% above U.S. |
| Townshend and Worcester 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% |
12%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Olean and Massena 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% |
19.3%±6.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Massena and Worcester 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% |
52.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Olean 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. |
$78,750±$29kHighest about the U.S. average |
$73,833±$18k 9% below U.S. |
$51,458±$7k 36% below U.S. |
| Townshend and Worcester 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. |
$287,200±$79kHighest 14% below U.S. |
$271,100±$27k 19% below U.S. |
$94,400±$15k 72% below U.S. |
| Townshend and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$52 44% below U.S. |
$1,074±$80Highest 24% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136 28% below U.S. |
$722±$44Lowest 49% below U.S. |
| Townshend and Worcester 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 |
$5,364Highest 72% above U.S. |
$4,421 42% above U.S. |
$3,218 3% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.8%±11.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townshend and Massena 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% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
24.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1954 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
18 min 32% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
28%±18.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.2%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Townshend and Worcester 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 | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school in town | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
8.1Lowest |
— | — |
| 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.