Compare towns

Olean vs Windham vs Gerry vs Oswego

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 expensive homes ($354k median).
Gerry has the oldest population (median age 52.4).
Oswego has the most renters (49.8% 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.

MeasureOleanWindhamGerryOswego
People
Population
13,738
594Lowest
1,668
17,033Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
-6.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
-6.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39±2.6
about the U.S. average
44.2±7.4
14% above U.S.
52.4±5.7Highest
35% above U.S.
35.7±1.6Lowest
8% below U.S.
Gerry 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%±7.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.9%±3.9
U.S.: 22%
21.9%±2.6
U.S.: 22%
Olean and Oswego 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%
23.2%±8.1
U.S.: 17.2%
29.9%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.3%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Gerry 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
48.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
23.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
26.1%
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%
3.4%±2.3
U.S.: 6.4%
10.1%±2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$51,261±$7kLowest
37% below U.S.
$94,500±$12kHighest
17% above U.S.
$68,667±$12k
15% below U.S.
$53,172±$4k
34% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$86,100±$6kLowest
74% below U.S.
$353,900±$20kHighest
6% above U.S.
$119,200±$10k
64% below U.S.
$120,600±$7k
64% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$794±$52Lowest
44% below U.S.
—
$1,138±$260Highest
19% below U.S.
$1,109±$72
22% below U.S.
Gerry and Oswego are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,130
about the U.S. average
$5,951Highest
91% above U.S.
$2,606Lowest
16% below U.S.
$3,362
8% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52%±9.1
U.S.: 51.1%
41.2%±94Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
61.2%±16.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
60.4%±7.4
U.S.: 51.1%
Gerry and Oswego 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%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
20.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
55.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
82.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
50.2%Lowest
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.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
14 minLowest
45% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
19 min
30% below U.S.
Work from home
8.4%±2.6
U.S.: 15.1%
20.5%±5.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.2%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
8.6%±2.9
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #337 of 484 in NY — — #285 of 484 in NY
School district OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT — CASSADAGA VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT OSWEGO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL — CASSADAGA VALLEY MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL OSWEGO HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school
12.2
—
8.7Lowest
12.5Highest
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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.