What stands out worked out from the figures below

Waterville has the most expensive homes ($236k median).

Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Waterville	Olean
People
Population	680Lowest	13,738Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.1±8.2Highest 26% above U.S.	39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average
	Waterville and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.4%±8.2Lowest U.S.: 22%	23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Olean and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	19.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Olean and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.3%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Waterville and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$71,250±$27kHighest 12% below U.S.	$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S.
	Waterville and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$236,300±$15kHighest 29% below U.S.	$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,110±$93Highest 21% below U.S.	$794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,957Highest 27% above U.S.	$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.6%±27.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	52%±9.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Olean and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S.	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	38 minHighest 42% above U.S.	14 minLowest 45% below U.S.
Work from home	8.5%±3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Waterville and Olean 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	Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A	OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	None in town	OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	12.2
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.