Compare towns

Wright vs Brighton vs Olean

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wright has the highest household income ($86k).
Brighton has the most people working from home (12.4%).
Olean has the shortest commute (14 min average).

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.

MeasureWrightBrightonOlean
People
Population
1,739
1,167Lowest
13,738Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-5.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
51.4±4.7Highest
32% above U.S.
45.2±11.6
16% above U.S.
39±2.6Lowest
about the U.S. average
Wright and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.7%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.3%±5.7
U.S.: 22%
23.5%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
Olean and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.4%±1.9
U.S.: 17.2%
27.2%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.1%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Brighton and Wright are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
24.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
25.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
29.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.1%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.6%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.6%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
Brighton and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$86,250±$13kHighest
7% above U.S.
$47,375±$21kLowest
41% below U.S.
$51,261±$7k
37% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$242,000±$36kHighest
27% below U.S.
$163,900±$39k
51% below U.S.
$86,100±$6kLowest
74% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$953±$79Highest
33% below U.S.
$775±$33Lowest
45% below U.S.
$794±$52
44% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,279Highest
69% above U.S.
$3,360
8% above U.S.
$3,130Lowest
about the U.S. average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
37.6%±16.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
55%±17Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
52%±9.1
U.S.: 51.1%
Brighton and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
22%
U.S.: 12.5%
26.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
51.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
55.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983Highest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1967
13 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
25% above U.S.
33 minHighest
25% above U.S.
14 minLowest
45% below U.S.
Work from home
5.9%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.4%±8.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
8.4%±2.6
U.S.: 15.1%
Brighton 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 — Brighton School District 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.