Compare towns
Strafford vs Olean vs Warren 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 highest household income ($111k).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Warren has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16%).
Mendon has the most homeowners (92.2%).
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 | Warren | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,372 |
13,738Highest |
1,585 |
1,113Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
53.1±4.2 37% above U.S. |
53.4±10.5Highest 37% above U.S. |
| Mendon and Warren 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% |
9.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±5.2 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% |
30.1%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Warren 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60%Highest 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% |
3.6%±4 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. |
$86,905±$16k 8% above 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±$40k 30% above U.S. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$569,300±$123kHighest 71% above U.S. |
$357,000±$44k 7% above U.S. |
| Warren and Strafford 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. |
$1,750±$394Highest 24% above U.S. |
$1,230±$651 13% below U.S. |
| Warren and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,149 129% above U.S. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$7,284Highest 134% above U.S. |
$5,342 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.3%±26.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon 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% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.7% 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% |
86.7% 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. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minHighest 13% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
19 min 30% below U.S. |
17 min 36% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
36.2%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Warren and Mendon 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 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2 |
— | — |
| 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.