Compare towns
Whitingham vs Olean vs Massena
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Whitingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1%).
Olean has the oldest population (median age 53.8).
Massena has the most affordable homes ($94k 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 | Whitingham | Olean | Massena |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,368Lowest |
1,664 |
10,238Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±7.1 19% above U.S. |
53.8±5.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
42.6±4.7Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Olean and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Whitingham and Massena are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31.1%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Whitingham and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Massena and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,625±$11k 13% below U.S. |
$74,583±$20kHighest 8% below U.S. |
$51,458±$7kLowest 36% below U.S. |
| Olean and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $262,300±$30kHighest 21% below U.S. |
$158,600±$17k 52% below U.S. |
$94,400±$15kLowest 72% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $673±$150 52% below U.S. |
$666±$334Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$722±$44Highest 49% below U.S. |
| Massena and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,055Highest 62% above U.S. |
$4,027 29% above U.S. |
$3,218Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.7%±47.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±25.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.8%±11.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whitingham and Massena are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
24.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
19 min 30% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.7%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.8%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.2%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Whitingham 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 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | — | — |
| High school in town | Twin Valley Middle High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.8 |
— | — |
| 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.