Compare towns
Union vs Olean vs Vestal
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 oldest population (median age 41.4).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Vestal has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.5%).
Vestal is a college town. 33.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Vestal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 55,078Highest |
13,738Lowest |
30,978 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% NY: +4.2% |
-3.6%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+4.5%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 41.4±1.2Highest 4% above NY |
39±2.6 about the NY average |
26.3±2.7Lowest 34% below NY |
| Union and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±1.3 NY: 20.5% |
23.5%±2.9Highest NY: 20.5% |
17%±2.2Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±1.3Highest NY: 17.9% |
19.1%±2.5 NY: 17.9% |
17.4%±1.7Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Union and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33% NY: 40.2% |
29.9%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
44.5%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±0.9 NY: 7% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest NY: 7% |
33.1%±2Highest NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $61,713±$2k 28% below NY |
$51,261±$7kLowest 40% below NY |
$83,012±$8kHighest 3% below NY |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $149,900±$5k 65% below NY |
$86,100±$6kLowest 80% below NY |
$193,500±$9kHighest 54% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $936±$37 42% below NY |
$794±$52Lowest 51% below NY |
$1,199±$59Highest 26% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,200 36% below NY |
$3,130Lowest 52% below NY |
$4,907Highest 25% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±5.6Lowest NY: 52.1% |
52%±9.1 NY: 52.1% |
57.8%±9.2Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Vestal and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.2% NY: 14% |
26.7%Highest NY: 14% |
11.8%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9% NY: 54.3% |
55.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
76.1%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955 4 yrs older than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1968Highest 9 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 46% below NY |
14 minLowest 56% below NY |
19 minHighest 42% below NY |
| Work from home | 9%±1.5 NY: 14.9% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
13.3%±3Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Vestal 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 | #218 of 484 in NY |
| School district | UNION-ENDICOTT CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · JOHNSON CITY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | VESTAL CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | UNION-ENDICOTT HIGH SCHOOL | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | VESTAL SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
12.2 |
12.6Highest |
| 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.