Compare towns
Whiting vs Olean vs Orwell vs Athens
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).
Orwell has the most expensive homes ($336k median).
Athens has the most people working from home (19.3%).
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 | Athens |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 532 |
13,738Highest |
1,294 |
431Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.6%Lowest 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 |
47.5±7Highest 22% above U.S. |
47.3±6.5 22% above U.S. |
| Orwell and Athens 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% |
21.8%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 13%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Orwell and Athens 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Whiting and Athens 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. |
$70,417±$22k 13% below U.S. |
$68,438±$30k 15% below U.S. |
| Whiting and Orwell 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. |
$335,600±$25kHighest about the U.S. average |
$240,400±$32k 28% 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. |
$794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$1,105±$51 22% below U.S. |
$1,125±$537 20% below U.S. |
| Whiting and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,227 36% above U.S. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,914 25% above U.S. |
$5,438Highest 74% 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% |
62.1%±35.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.5%±39Lowest 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% |
10.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Athens 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.