Compare towns
Schroon vs Olean vs Willsboro
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).
Willsboro has the oldest population (median age 55).
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 | Willsboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,897Lowest |
13,738Highest |
1,903 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-3.6% NY: +4.2% |
-5.9%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 54±9.9 36% above NY |
39±2.6Lowest about the NY average |
55±4.5Highest 38% above NY |
| Willsboro and Schroon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±5.1Lowest NY: 20.5% |
23.5%±2.9Highest NY: 20.5% |
15.4%±4.2Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Age 65+ | 30.6%±4.7Highest NY: 17.9% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest NY: 17.9% |
28.1%±4.3 NY: 17.9% |
| Schroon and Willsboro 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%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
32% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.7 NY: 7% |
3.6%±1.1Highest NY: 7% |
1.2%±1.3Lowest NY: 7% |
| Olean and Schroon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,955±$10kHighest 19% below NY |
$51,261±$7kLowest 40% below NY |
$69,766±$26k 19% below NY |
| Schroon and Willsboro 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 |
$237,900±$48k 44% below NY |
| Schroon and Willsboro 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±$52Highest 51% below NY |
$720±$46 56% below NY |
| Olean and Willsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,291Highest 50% below NY |
$3,130 52% below NY |
$2,914Lowest 56% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±36.9Lowest NY: 52.1% |
52%±9.1 NY: 52.1% |
61.1%±35.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Willsboro and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
26.7%Highest NY: 14% |
12.1% NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.1%Highest NY: 54.3% |
55.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
84.5% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 12 yrs newer than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1957 2 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 48% below NY |
14 minLowest 56% below NY |
24 minHighest 27% below NY |
| Work from home | 33.7%±16.1Highest NY: 14.9% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
12%±9.6 NY: 14.9% |
| Schroon and Willsboro 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 | — |
| High school in town | — | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.