Compare towns
Wright vs Olean vs Wells
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wright has the highest household income ($86k).
Olean has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).
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 | Wright | Olean | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,739Highest |
1,664 |
671Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5% NY: +4.2% |
-4.2%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+1.3%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7Lowest 29% above NY |
53.8±5.5 35% above NY |
59.8±3.5Highest 50% above NY |
| Wells and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±3.1Highest NY: 20.5% |
15.6%±4.5 NY: 20.5% |
14.8%±4.5Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Wright and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±1.9Lowest NY: 17.9% |
25.2%±5.1 NY: 17.9% |
28.9%±7.6Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Wells and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.4%Highest NY: 40.2% |
23.3% NY: 40.2% |
19.6%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.6Lowest NY: 7% |
2.5%±1.5Highest NY: 7% |
2.5%±1.9Highest NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,250±$13kHighest about the NY average |
$74,583±$20k 13% below NY |
$74,286±$31kLowest 14% below NY |
| Wright and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$36k 43% below NY |
$158,600±$17kLowest 63% below NY |
$268,600±$45kHighest 37% below NY |
| Wells and Wright are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $953±$79Highest 41% below NY |
$666±$334Lowest 59% below NY |
— |
| Wright and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,279Highest 20% below NY |
$4,027 39% below NY |
$2,588Lowest 61% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.6%±16.4 NY: 52.1% |
57.1%±25.5Highest NY: 52.1% |
30%±100Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Olean and Wright are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7% NY: 14% |
16.3%Highest NY: 14% |
4.6%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% NY: 54.3% |
77.9%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
91.7%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 24 yrs newer than NY |
1962Lowest 3 yrs newer than NY |
1972 13 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min about the NY average |
19 minLowest 43% below NY |
43 minHighest 32% above NY |
| Work from home | 5.9%±2.8Highest NY: 14.9% |
5.8%±4.7 NY: 14.9% |
3.6%±2.5Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Wright 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 | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NY 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.