Compare towns
Olean vs Whitingham vs Colrain
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).
Whitingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1%).
Colrain has the highest household income ($81k).
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 | Whitingham | Colrain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,738Highest |
1,368Lowest |
1,627 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
46.4±7.1 19% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Colrain and Whitingham 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% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Olean and Whitingham 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% |
31.1%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Whitingham and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Olean and Colrain 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. |
$70,625±$11k 13% below U.S. |
$80,673±$10kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Colrain and Whitingham 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. |
$262,300±$30k 21% below U.S. |
$284,300±$14kHighest 15% below U.S. |
| Colrain and Whitingham 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. |
$673±$150Lowest 52% below U.S. |
$1,102±$77Highest 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$5,055Highest 62% above U.S. |
$4,317 38% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.7%±47.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whitingham 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% |
15.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Whitingham 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 | — | — |
| School district | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | Twin Valley Middle High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
7.8Lowest |
— |
| 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.