Compare towns

Wright vs Olean vs Strafford

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 ($86k median).
Strafford has the most people working from home (16.1%).

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.

MeasureWrightOleanStrafford
People
Population
1,739
13,738Highest
1,372Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
51.4±4.7Highest
32% above U.S.
39±2.6Lowest
about the U.S. average
51.4±4.7Highest
32% above U.S.
Kids under 18
16.7%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.5%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
23%±5.2
U.S.: 22%
Olean and Strafford 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%
19.1%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.1%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Strafford 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%
29.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
53.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.1%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.6%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Strafford 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.
$51,261±$7kLowest
37% below U.S.
$110,833±$19kHighest
37% above U.S.
Strafford 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.
$86,100±$6kLowest
74% below U.S.
$431,300±$40kHighest
30% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$953±$79
33% below U.S.
$794±$52Lowest
44% below U.S.
$1,125±$789Highest
20% below U.S.
Strafford 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.
$3,130Lowest
about the U.S. average
$7,149Highest
129% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
37.6%±16.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52%±9.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.6%±48
U.S.: 51.1%
Olean and Strafford 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%
26.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
55.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
88.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983Highest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
25% above U.S.
14 minLowest
45% below U.S.
23 min
13% below U.S.
Work from home
5.9%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
8.4%±2.6
U.S.: 15.1%
16.1%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #337 of 484 in NY —
School district — OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT Strafford School District
High school in town — OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL None in town
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.