Compare towns
Orwell vs Olean vs Shoreham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orwell has the most homeowners (87.3%).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Shoreham has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).
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 | Orwell | Olean | Shoreham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,294 |
13,738Highest |
1,269Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±7 22% above U.S. |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
51.8±7.2Highest 33% above U.S. |
| Shoreham and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Olean and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Shoreham and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,417±$22k 13% below U.S. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$93,654±$23kHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Shoreham and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,600±$25kHighest about the U.S. average |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$316,400±$34k 5% below U.S. |
| Orwell and Shoreham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,105±$51 22% below U.S. |
$794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$1,306±$335Highest 8% below U.S. |
| Shoreham and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,914 25% above U.S. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,713Highest 51% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±35.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±48.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Orwell and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13.3%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Shoreham and Orwell 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 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | None 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.