Compare towns
Whiting vs Olean vs Orwell vs Hancock
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Whiting has the highest household income ($91k).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($159k median).
Orwell has the most expensive homes ($336k median).
Hancock has the youngest population (median age 33.8).
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 | Whiting | Olean | Orwell | Hancock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 532 |
1,664Highest |
1,294 |
435Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 39.6±2.7 about the U.S. average |
53.8±5.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
47.5±7 22% above U.S. |
33.8±11.6Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Olean and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±6.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Whiting and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Olean and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±3.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Whiting and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,250±$38kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$74,583±$20k 8% below U.S. |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$76,250±$34k 6% below U.S. |
| Whiting and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $280,400±$36k 16% below U.S. |
$158,600±$17kLowest 52% below U.S. |
$335,600±$25kHighest about the U.S. average |
$187,900±$11k 44% below U.S. |
| Orwell and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$519Highest 15% below U.S. |
$666±$334Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$1,105±$51 22% below U.S. |
$939±$19 34% below U.S. |
| Whiting and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,227Highest 36% above U.S. |
$4,027 29% above U.S. |
$3,914 25% above U.S. |
$3,511Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.3%±37.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±25.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±35.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
3.5%±16.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Orwell and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Orwell and Hancock 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 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | — |
| 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.