Compare towns
Olean vs Union vs Massena vs Olean
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Olean has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Union has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).
Olean has the most homeowners (77.9%).
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 | Union | Massena | Olean |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 13,738 |
55,078Highest |
10,238 |
1,664Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6% NY: +4.2% |
-0.4%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-7.2%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-4.2% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 39±2.6Lowest about the NY average |
41.4±1.2 4% above NY |
42.6±4.7 7% above NY |
53.8±5.5Highest 35% above NY |
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±2.9Highest NY: 20.5% |
19%±1.3 NY: 20.5% |
19.4%±3.4 NY: 20.5% |
15.6%±4.5Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| 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 NY: 17.9% |
21.4%±1.3 NY: 17.9% |
20.4%±3.3 NY: 17.9% |
25.2%±5.1Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Olean and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.9% NY: 40.2% |
33%Highest NY: 40.2% |
25.1% NY: 40.2% |
23.3%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 NY: 7% |
6.1%±0.9Highest NY: 7% |
2.9%±1.4 NY: 7% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $51,261±$7kLowest 40% below NY |
$61,713±$2k 28% below NY |
$51,458±$7k 40% below NY |
$74,583±$20kHighest 13% below NY |
| Olean and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $86,100±$6kLowest 80% below NY |
$149,900±$5k 65% below NY |
$94,400±$15k 78% below NY |
$158,600±$17kHighest 63% below NY |
| Olean and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$52 51% below NY |
$936±$37Highest 42% below NY |
$722±$44 55% below NY |
$666±$334Lowest 59% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,130Lowest 52% below NY |
$4,200Highest 36% below NY |
$3,218 51% below NY |
$4,027 39% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52%±9.1 NY: 52.1% |
49.2%±5.6Lowest NY: 52.1% |
57.8%±11.4Highest NY: 52.1% |
57.1%±25.5 NY: 52.1% |
| Massena and Olean 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% |
16.2%Lowest NY: 14% |
24.3% NY: 14% |
16.3% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
58.9% NY: 54.3% |
55.4% NY: 54.3% |
77.9%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1955 4 yrs older than NY |
1954 5 yrs older than NY |
1962Highest 3 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 56% below NY |
18 min 46% below NY |
18 min 45% below NY |
19 minHighest 43% below NY |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.6 NY: 14.9% |
9%±1.5Highest NY: 14.9% |
5.2%±2.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
5.8%±4.7 NY: 14.9% |
| Union 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 | #199 of 484 in NY | — | #337 of 484 in NY |
| School district | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | UNION-ENDICOTT CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · JOHNSON CITY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | — |
| High school in town | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | UNION-ENDICOTT HIGH SCHOOL | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
11.4Lowest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.