Compare towns
Strafford vs Olean vs Gerry vs Mendon
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 most affordable homes ($86k median).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
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 | Gerry | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,372 |
13,738Highest |
1,668 |
1,113Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
52.4±5.7 35% above U.S. |
53.4±10.5Highest 37% above U.S. |
| Mendon and Gerry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Olean and Strafford 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% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.9%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gerry and Mendon 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% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$68,667±$12k 15% below U.S. |
$100,524±$23k 25% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Mendon 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. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$119,200±$10k 64% below U.S. |
$357,000±$44k 7% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
$794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$1,138±$260 19% below U.S. |
$1,230±$651Highest 13% below U.S. |
| Mendon and Gerry 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. |
$3,130 about the U.S. average |
$2,606Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$5,342 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.2%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Gerry 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% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
17 min 36% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mendon and Strafford 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 | Strafford School District | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | CASSADAGA VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | None in town | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | CASSADAGA VALLEY MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2Highest |
8.7Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.