Compare towns
Olean vs Washington vs Wells vs Olean
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).
Washington has the most people working from home (14.9%).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Olean has the oldest population (median age 53.8).
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 | Washington | Wells | Olean |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 13,738Highest |
1,056Lowest |
1,148 |
1,664 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
52.9±5.1 36% above U.S. |
50.7±5.2 30% above U.S. |
53.8±5.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Olean and Washington 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% |
16.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Olean and Washington 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% |
24.3%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Olean and Wells 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% |
31%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Olean and Wells 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. |
$66,103±$8k 18% below U.S. |
$75,417±$11kHighest 7% below U.S. |
$74,583±$20k 8% below U.S. |
| Wells and Olean 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. |
$217,700±$37k 35% below U.S. |
$243,000±$42kHighest 27% below U.S. |
$158,600±$17k 52% below U.S. |
| Wells and Washington 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. |
$996±$285 30% below U.S. |
$1,313±$282Highest 7% below U.S. |
$666±$334Lowest 53% below U.S. |
| Wells and Washington 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 |
$3,485 12% above U.S. |
$3,308 6% above U.S. |
$4,027Highest 29% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
34.5%±63.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.5%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±25.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wells 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
48 minHighest 80% above U.S. |
19 min 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Washington and Wells 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 | — | — | #337 of 484 in NY |
| School district | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | — |
| High school in town | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
— | — | — |
| 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.