What stands out worked out from the figures below

Shrewsbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.8%).

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	Shrewsbury	Olean
People
Population	1,237Lowest	1,664Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.3±5.6Lowest 9% above U.S.	53.8±5.5Highest 38% above U.S.
Kids under 18	25.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22%	15.6%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	21.9%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	25.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Olean and Shrewsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Shrewsbury and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$91,250±$23kHighest 13% above U.S.	$74,583±$20kLowest 8% below U.S.
	Shrewsbury and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$331,900±$52kHighest about the U.S. average	$158,600±$17kLowest 52% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,438±$380Highest about the U.S. average	$666±$334Lowest 53% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,350Highest 72% above U.S.	$4,027Lowest 29% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	71.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%	57.1%±25.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Shrewsbury and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	77.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S.	1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest about the U.S. average	19 minLowest 30% below U.S.
Work from home	15.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	5.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#337 of 484 in NY
School district	Mill River Unified Union School District #52	—
High school in town	None in town	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.