Compare towns
Union vs Olean vs Johnson City
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Union has the most kids (19% under 18).
Olean has the most homeowners (77.9%).
Johnson City has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
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 | Union | Olean | Johnson City |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 55,078Highest |
1,664Lowest |
14,940 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% NY: +4.2% |
-4.2%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+1.1%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 41.4±1.2 4% above NY |
53.8±5.5Highest 35% above NY |
40.7±3.4Lowest about the NY average |
| Kids under 18 | 19%±1.3Highest NY: 20.5% |
15.6%±4.5Lowest NY: 20.5% |
18.1%±2.6 NY: 20.5% |
| Union and Johnson City are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±1.3Lowest NY: 17.9% |
25.2%±5.1Highest NY: 17.9% |
22.4%±2.6 NY: 17.9% |
| Olean and Johnson City are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33%Highest NY: 40.2% |
23.3%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
29.6% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±0.9 NY: 7% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest NY: 7% |
9%±2.2Highest NY: 7% |
| Johnson City and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $61,713±$2k 28% below NY |
$74,583±$20kHighest 13% below NY |
$56,283±$4kLowest 35% below NY |
| Olean and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $149,900±$5k 65% below NY |
$158,600±$17kHighest 63% below NY |
$117,100±$4kLowest 72% below NY |
| Olean and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $936±$37 42% below NY |
$666±$334Lowest 59% below NY |
$1,031±$66Highest 36% below NY |
| Johnson City and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,200Highest 36% below NY |
$4,027 39% below NY |
$3,982Lowest 40% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±5.6Lowest NY: 52.1% |
57.1%±25.5 NY: 52.1% |
57.8%±10.9Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Johnson City and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.2%Lowest NY: 14% |
16.3% NY: 14% |
19.6%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9% NY: 54.3% |
77.9%Highest NY: 54.3% |
52.3%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955 4 yrs older than NY |
1962Highest 3 yrs newer than NY |
1949Lowest 10 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 46% below NY |
19 minHighest 43% below NY |
17 minLowest 49% below NY |
| Work from home | 9%±1.5 NY: 14.9% |
5.8%±4.7Lowest NY: 14.9% |
9.7%±3.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Johnson City and Union 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 | #199 of 484 in NY | #337 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | UNION-ENDICOTT CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · JOHNSON CITY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | — |
| High school in town | UNION-ENDICOTT HIGH SCHOOL | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
— | — |
| 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.