Compare towns

Olean vs Worcester vs Hadley

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 kids (23.5% under 18).
Worcester has the most expensive homes ($271k median).
Hadley has the oldest population (median age 54.1).

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.

MeasureOleanWorcesterHadley
People
Population
13,738Highest
831Lowest
2,074
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39±2.6Lowest
about the U.S. average
47±2.7
21% above U.S.
54.1±3Highest
39% above U.S.
Kids under 18
23.5%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
12.8%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
14.4%±3
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
19.1%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.5%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
26.1%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Hadley and Worcester 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%
53%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
25%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.6%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
6.9%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.1%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Worcester 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.
$73,833±$18kHighest
9% below U.S.
$73,750±$32k
9% below U.S.
Worcester and Hadley 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.
$271,100±$27kHighest
19% below U.S.
$194,200±$30k
42% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$794±$52Lowest
44% below U.S.
$1,023±$136Highest
28% below U.S.
$900±$293
36% below U.S.
Worcester and Hadley 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
$4,421Highest
42% above U.S.
$2,375Lowest
24% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52%±9.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
25.5%±37Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.3%±17
U.S.: 51.1%
Olean and Hadley 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%
5.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
55.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
83.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1972
8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
14 minLowest
45% below U.S.
29 min
9% above U.S.
31 minHighest
19% above U.S.
Work from home
8.4%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.6%±4.8
U.S.: 15.1%
24.2%±23.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Hadley and Worcester 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 Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 —
High school in town OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL None in town —
Students per teacherat that high school
12.2
— —
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.