Compare towns

Olean vs Williamstown vs Johnson City

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).
Williamstown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
Johnson City has the most renters (47.7% rent).

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.

MeasureOleanWilliamstownJohnson City
People
Population
13,738
3,579Lowest
14,940Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39±2.6Lowest
about the U.S. average
42±5Highest
8% above U.S.
40.7±3.4
5% above U.S.
Williamstown and Johnson City 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%
19.9%±5.2
U.S.: 22%
18.1%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Olean and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.1%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
17%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.4%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Johnson City and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
29.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
17.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
29.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.6%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±3.2
U.S.: 6.4%
9%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Johnson City and Williamstown 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.
$94,418±$10kHighest
17% above U.S.
$56,283±$4k
30% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$86,100±$6kLowest
74% below U.S.
$234,900±$24kHighest
29% below U.S.
$117,100±$4k
65% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$794±$52Lowest
44% below U.S.
$1,659±$189Highest
17% above U.S.
$1,031±$66
27% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,130Lowest
about the U.S. average
$3,841
23% above U.S.
$3,982Highest
28% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52%±9.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
83.7%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
57.8%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
Williamstown and Johnson City 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%
8.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
19.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
55.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
90.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
52.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1949
31 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
14 minLowest
45% below U.S.
23 minHighest
12% below U.S.
17 min
38% below U.S.
Work from home
8.4%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.9%±6.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
9.7%±3.4
U.S.: 15.1%
Williamstown and Johnson City 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 #47 of 70 in VT —
School district OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT Paine Mountain Union School District #68 —
High school in town OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL Williamstown Middle/High School —
Students per teacherat that high school
12.2Highest
9.5Lowest
—
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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.