Compare towns

Olean vs Windham vs Ellery

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).
Windham has the most people working from home (20.5%).
Ellery has the oldest population (median age 56.1).

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.

MeasureOleanWindhamEllery
People
Population
13,738Highest
594Lowest
4,073
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
-9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39±2.6Lowest
about the U.S. average
44.2±7.4
14% above U.S.
56.1±4.5Highest
44% above U.S.
Ellery and Windham 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%
17.5%±7.9
U.S.: 22%
14.3%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Olean and Windham 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%
23.2%±8.1
U.S.: 17.2%
30.8%±6.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Ellery and Windham 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%
48.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
40%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.6%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
0.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.4%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Ellery and Olean 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.
$94,500±$12kHighest
17% above U.S.
$86,833±$12k
8% above U.S.
Windham and Ellery 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.
$353,900±$20kHighest
6% above U.S.
$235,900±$29k
29% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$794±$52Lowest
44% below U.S.
—
$845±$189Highest
40% below U.S.
Ellery and Olean 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
$5,951Highest
91% above U.S.
$3,796
22% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52%±9.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.2%±94
U.S.: 51.1%
35.9%±16.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Olean and Windham 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%
9.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
9.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
55.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
89.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1967
13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
14 minLowest
45% below U.S.
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
23 min
12% below U.S.
Work from home
8.4%±2.6
U.S.: 15.1%
20.5%±5.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
4.5%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #337 of 484 in NY — #241 of 484 in NY
School district OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT — BEMUS POINT CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL — MAPLE GROVE JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school
12.2Highest
—
7.6Lowest
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.