Compare towns
Washington vs Olean vs Wells
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washington has the most people working from home (14.9%).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
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 | Washington | Olean | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,056Lowest |
13,738Highest |
1,148 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.9±5.1Highest 36% above U.S. |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
50.7±5.2 30% above U.S. |
| Washington and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Olean and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wells and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Olean and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,103±$8k 18% below U.S. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$75,417±$11kHighest 7% below U.S. |
| Wells and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$37k 35% below U.S. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$243,000±$42kHighest 27% below U.S. |
| Wells and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $996±$285 30% below U.S. |
$794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$1,313±$282Highest 7% below U.S. |
| Wells and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,485Highest 12% above U.S. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,308 6% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.5%±63.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.5%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wells and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4% 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. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
48 minHighest 80% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Washington and Wells 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 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| 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 |
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.