Compare towns
Peru vs Oswego vs Olean
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Peru has the most expensive homes ($400k median).
Oswego has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
Olean has the oldest population (median age 53.8).
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 | Peru | Oswego | Olean |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 434Lowest |
17,033Highest |
1,664 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -6.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±8.6 16% above U.S. |
35.7±1.6Lowest 8% below U.S. |
53.8±5.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Olean and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 8.5%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Oswego and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Olean and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $151,875±$83kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$53,172±$4kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$74,583±$20k 8% below U.S. |
| Peru and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $400,000±$105kHighest 20% above U.S. |
$120,600±$7kLowest 64% below U.S. |
$158,600±$17k 52% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,271±$820Highest 10% below U.S. |
$1,109±$72 22% below U.S. |
$666±$334Lowest 53% below U.S. |
| Peru and Oswego are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000Highest 60% above U.S. |
$3,362Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$4,027 29% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29%±47.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.4%±7.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±25.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Oswego and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
20.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
50.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
19 min 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±16.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Peru and Oswego 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 | — | #285 of 484 in NY | #337 of 484 in NY |
| School district | — | OSWEGO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | — | OSWEGO HIGH SCHOOL | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.5 |
— |
| 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.