Compare towns
Schroon vs Olean vs Hadley vs Highland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Schroon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.7%).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Hadley has the highest household income ($74k).
Highland has the oldest population (median age 55.4).
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 | Schroon | Olean | Hadley | Highland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,897Lowest |
13,738Highest |
2,074 |
2,234 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-3.6% NY: +4.2% |
-3.5% NY: +4.2% |
-13.2%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 54±9.9 36% above NY |
39±2.6Lowest about the NY average |
54.1±3 36% above NY |
55.4±4.4Highest 39% above NY |
| Highland and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±5.1 NY: 20.5% |
23.5%±2.9Highest NY: 20.5% |
14.4%±3 NY: 20.5% |
12.4%±4Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Age 65+ | 30.6%±4.7Highest NY: 17.9% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest NY: 17.9% |
26.1%±4.6 NY: 17.9% |
26.1%±6 NY: 17.9% |
| Schroon and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.2%Highest NY: 40.2% |
29.9% NY: 40.2% |
25%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
36.2% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.7 NY: 7% |
3.6%±1.1 NY: 7% |
2.1%±1.8Lowest NY: 7% |
4.3%±2.9Highest NY: 7% |
| Highland and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,955±$10k 19% below NY |
$51,261±$7kLowest 40% below NY |
$73,750±$32kHighest 14% below NY |
$63,846±$26k 26% below NY |
| Hadley and Schroon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,800±$21kHighest 36% below NY |
$86,100±$6kLowest 80% below NY |
$194,200±$30k 54% below NY |
$255,000±$38k 40% below NY |
| Schroon and Highland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $516±$33Lowest 68% below NY |
$794±$52 51% below NY |
$900±$293 44% below NY |
$1,215±$1kHighest 25% below NY |
| Highland and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,291 50% below NY |
$3,130 52% below NY |
$2,375Lowest 64% below NY |
$4,373Highest 34% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±36.9 NY: 52.1% |
52%±9.1Highest NY: 52.1% |
44.3%±17 NY: 52.1% |
24.3%±18.6Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Olean and Schroon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.7% NY: 14% |
26.7%Highest NY: 14% |
11.5% NY: 14% |
7.1%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.1% NY: 54.3% |
55.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
83.7% NY: 54.3% |
87.3%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 12 yrs newer than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1972Highest 13 yrs newer than NY |
1964 5 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 48% below NY |
14 minLowest 56% below NY |
31 min 4% below NY |
39 minHighest 18% above NY |
| Work from home | 33.7%±16.1Highest NY: 14.9% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
24.2%±23.4 NY: 14.9% |
17.4%±6 NY: 14.9% |
| Schroon and Hadley 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 | — | ELDRED CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — | ELDRED JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2Highest |
— | 10.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.