Compare towns
Whiting vs Olean vs Hadley vs Orwell
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 ($86k median).
Hadley has the most people working from home (24.2%).
Orwell has the most expensive homes ($336k 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.
| Measure | Whiting | Olean | Hadley | Orwell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 532Lowest |
13,738Highest |
2,074 |
1,294 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.6±2.7 about the U.S. average |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
54.1±3Highest 39% above U.S. |
47.5±7 22% above U.S. |
| Hadley 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% |
23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 13%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hadley 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% |
29.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Whiting and Olean 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. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$73,750±$32k 9% below U.S. |
$70,417±$22k 13% below U.S. |
| Whiting and Hadley 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. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$194,200±$30k 42% below U.S. |
$335,600±$25kHighest about the U.S. average |
| 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. |
$794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$900±$293 36% below U.S. |
$1,105±$51 22% 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. |
$3,130 about the U.S. average |
$2,375Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$3,914 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.3%±37.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±35.9Highest 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% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 10%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.2%±23.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hadley and Orwell 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 | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| 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 | 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.