Compare towns
Strafford vs Olean vs Oswego
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Olean has the oldest population (median age 53.8).
Oswego has the most renters (49.8% rent).
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 | Strafford | Olean | Oswego |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,372Lowest |
1,664 |
17,033Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
53.8±5.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
35.7±1.6Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Olean and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Oswego are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Olean and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$74,583±$20k 8% below U.S. |
$53,172±$4kLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Strafford and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$158,600±$17k 52% below U.S. |
$120,600±$7kLowest 64% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$789Highest 20% below U.S. |
$666±$334Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$1,109±$72 22% below U.S. |
| Strafford and Oswego are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$4,027 29% above U.S. |
$3,362Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±25.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
60.4%±7.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Oswego and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
20.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
50.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minHighest 13% below U.S. |
19 min 30% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #337 of 484 in NY | #285 of 484 in NY |
| School district | Strafford School District | — | OSWEGO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | None in town | — | OSWEGO HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.5 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.