What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rome has the most people working from home (12.8%).

Olean has the most homeowners (77.9%).

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	Rome	Olean
People
Population	31,795Highest	1,664Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.7%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-4.2%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	40.7±1.9Lowest about the NY average	53.8±5.5Highest 35% above NY
Kids under 18	19.5%±2Highest NY: 20.5%	15.6%±4.5Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Rome and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.8%±1.7Lowest NY: 17.9%	25.2%±5.1Highest NY: 17.9%
	Olean and Rome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	20.8%Lowest NY: 40.2%	23.3%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±0.7Highest NY: 7%	2.5%±1.5Lowest NY: 7%
	Rome and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$59,925±$3kLowest 30% below NY	$74,583±$20kHighest 13% below NY
	Olean and Rome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$154,400±$6kLowest 64% below NY	$158,600±$17kHighest 63% below NY
	Olean and Rome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$909±$59Highest 44% below NY	$666±$334Lowest 59% below NY
	Rome and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,212Highest 36% below NY	$4,027Lowest 39% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.6%±6.7Lowest NY: 52.1%	57.1%±25.5Highest NY: 52.1%
	Olean and Rome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	18.1%Highest NY: 14%	16.3%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	56.6%Lowest NY: 54.3%	77.9%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1955Lowest 4 yrs older than NY	1962Highest 3 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	18 minLowest 45% below NY	19 minHighest 43% below NY
Work from home	12.8%±2.6Highest NY: 14.9%	5.8%±4.7Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Rome 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	#323 of 484 in NY	#337 of 484 in NY
School district	ROME CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT	—
High school in town	ROME FREE ACADEMY	—
Students per teacherat that high school	13.2	—
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.