Compare towns
Wright vs Olean vs Strafford vs Knox
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).
Knox has the highest household income ($124k).
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 | Knox |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,739 |
13,738Highest |
1,372Lowest |
2,559 |
| 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% |
-2.1% 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. |
49.8±6.7 28% 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% |
17.2%±3.7 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% |
20.2%±2.7 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% |
36.5% 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%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Knox and Strafford 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±$19k 37% above U.S. |
$124,083±$14kHighest 54% above U.S. |
| Knox and Strafford 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. |
$299,800±$37k 10% 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. |
$1,125±$44Highest 20% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,279 69% above U.S. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$4,451 43% 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% |
53.8%±34Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Knox 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% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.8%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. |
1982 2 yrs newer 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. |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 5.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Knox and Strafford 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.