Compare towns
Wright vs Olean vs Strafford vs Esperance
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 expensive homes ($431k median).
Esperance has the oldest population (median age 51.9).
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 | Strafford | Esperance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,739 |
13,738Highest |
1,372Lowest |
1,794 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-13%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
51.9±5Highest 33% above U.S. |
| Esperance 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% |
23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±3.6Lowest 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% |
22.1%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1%Lowest 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% |
4.2%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Esperance 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. |
$76,058±$11k 6% below 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. |
$196,200±$45k 41% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $953±$79 33% below U.S. |
$794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789Highest 20% below U.S. |
$1,075±$470 24% below U.S. |
| Strafford and Esperance 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. |
$4,005 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.6%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.8%±15.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Esperance and Olean 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% |
8.8% 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% |
77.5% 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. |
1957 23 yrs older than 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. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| 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% |
10.2%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Strafford and Esperance 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 | — | 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 | 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.