Compare towns

Wright vs Olean vs Middlesex

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Olean has the most affordable homes ($159k median).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).

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.

MeasureWrightOleanMiddlesex
People
Population
1,739
1,664Lowest
1,943Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
51.4±4.7
32% above U.S.
53.8±5.5Highest
38% above U.S.
44.4±3.9Lowest
14% above U.S.
Olean and Wright are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.7%±3.1
U.S.: 22%
15.6%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.3%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
Middlesex and Wright 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%
25.2%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.6%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Olean 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
23.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
54.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.1%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.5%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
5.2%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Middlesex 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±$13k
7% above U.S.
$74,583±$20kLowest
8% below U.S.
$109,632±$13kHighest
36% above U.S.
Middlesex and Wright are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$242,000±$36k
27% below U.S.
$158,600±$17kLowest
52% below U.S.
$376,300±$40kHighest
13% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$953±$79
33% below U.S.
$666±$334Lowest
53% below U.S.
$1,333±$359Highest
6% below U.S.
Middlesex and Wright are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,279
69% above U.S.
$4,027Lowest
29% above U.S.
$6,483Highest
108% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
37.6%±16.4
U.S.: 51.1%
57.1%±25.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Olean and Wright are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7%
U.S.: 12.5%
16.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
77.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
96.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1962Lowest
18 yrs older than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
25% above U.S.
19 minLowest
30% below U.S.
27 min
4% above U.S.
Work from home
5.9%±2.8
U.S.: 15.1%
5.8%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
28.4%±10.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #337 of 484 in NY —
School district — — Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
High school in town — — None in town
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.