What stands out worked out from the figures below

Putnam has the most expensive homes ($266k median).

Olean has the most affordable homes ($159k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Putnam	Olean
People
Population	540Lowest	1,664Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.9%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-4.2%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	53.6±6.4Lowest 35% above NY	53.8±5.5Highest 35% above NY
	Olean and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.4%±5.2Highest NY: 20.5%	15.6%±4.5Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Putnam and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	35.6%±3.4Highest NY: 17.9%	25.2%±5.1Lowest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.4%Highest NY: 40.2%	23.3%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±1.9Highest NY: 7%	2.5%±1.5Lowest NY: 7%
	Putnam and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$92,344±$14kHighest 7% above NY	$74,583±$20kLowest 13% below NY
	Putnam and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$266,200±$48kHighest 37% below NY	$158,600±$17kLowest 63% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$666±$334 59% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,674Lowest 44% below NY	$4,027Highest 39% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest NY: 52.1%	57.1%±25.5Highest NY: 52.1%
	Olean and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.2%Lowest NY: 14%	16.3%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.9%Highest NY: 54.3%	77.9%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Highest 12 yrs newer than NY	1962Lowest 3 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minHighest 34% below NY	19 minLowest 43% below NY
Work from home	8.6%±5.7Highest NY: 14.9%	5.8%±4.7Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Putnam and Olean 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	PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	—
High school in town	None in town	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

NY 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.