Compare towns

Worcester vs Olean vs Hadley

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Worcester has the most expensive homes ($271k median).
Olean has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Hadley has the oldest population (median age 54.1).

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.

MeasureWorcesterOleanHadley
People
Population
831Lowest
13,738Highest
2,074
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
47±2.7
21% above U.S.
39±2.6Lowest
about the U.S. average
54.1±3Highest
39% above U.S.
Kids under 18
12.8%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.5%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.4%±3
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
19.5%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
19.1%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
26.1%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Hadley and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
53%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
29.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
25%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.9%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.6%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
2.1%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Worcester and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$73,833±$18kHighest
9% below U.S.
$51,261±$7kLowest
37% below U.S.
$73,750±$32k
9% below U.S.
Worcester and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$271,100±$27kHighest
19% below U.S.
$86,100±$6kLowest
74% below U.S.
$194,200±$30k
42% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,023±$136Highest
28% below U.S.
$794±$52Lowest
44% below U.S.
$900±$293
36% below U.S.
Worcester and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,421Highest
42% above U.S.
$3,130
about the U.S. average
$2,375Lowest
24% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
25.5%±37Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52%±9.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.3%±17
U.S.: 51.1%
Olean and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
26.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
55.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
83.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1972
8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
9% above U.S.
14 minLowest
45% below U.S.
31 minHighest
19% above U.S.
Work from home
23.6%±4.8
U.S.: 15.1%
8.4%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
24.2%±23.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Hadley and Worcester 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 Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 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 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.