Compare towns

Olean vs Wallingford vs Ryegate

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).
Wallingford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
Ryegate has the most homeowners (84.7%).

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.

MeasureOleanWallingfordRyegate
People
Population
13,738Highest
2,286
1,059Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39±2.6Lowest
about the U.S. average
45.9±10.8Highest
18% above U.S.
41.2±2.6
6% above U.S.
Wallingford and Ryegate 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%
18.7%±5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.2%±4.6
U.S.: 22%
Olean and Ryegate 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%
23.9%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.1%±1.5
U.S.: 17.2%
Wallingford and Ryegate 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%
30.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
29.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.6%±1.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.5%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
Olean and Ryegate 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.
$80,230±$15kHighest
about the U.S. average
$66,484±$15k
18% below U.S.
Wallingford and Ryegate 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.
$261,900±$44kHighest
21% below U.S.
$219,300±$32k
34% below U.S.
Wallingford and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$794±$52Lowest
44% below U.S.
$891±$95
37% below U.S.
$908±$236Highest
36% below U.S.
Ryegate and Wallingford 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
$4,355Highest
40% above U.S.
$3,472
11% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52%±9.1
U.S.: 51.1%
14.3%±13.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
55.9%±29.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Ryegate 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
U.S.: 12.5%
7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
14.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
55.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
84.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1971Highest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1949
31 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
14 minLowest
45% below U.S.
25 min
6% below U.S.
28 minHighest
5% above U.S.
Work from home
8.4%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
7.1%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
8.2%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
Olean and Ryegate 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 Mill River Unified Union School District #52 —
High school in town OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL None in town —
Students per teacherat that high school
12.2
— —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.