Compare towns

Wright vs Olean vs Waltham

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).
Waltham has the most people working from home (20.6%).

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.

MeasureWrightOleanWaltham
People
Population
1,739
13,738Highest
452Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
51.4±4.7
32% above U.S.
39±2.6Lowest
about the U.S. average
60.8±7.3Highest
56% above U.S.
Waltham 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%
12.8%±7.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
21.4%±1.9
U.S.: 17.2%
19.1%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
45.4%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
24.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
29.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
39%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.1%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.6%±1.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.1%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
Olean and Waltham 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.
$97,500±$14kHighest
21% above U.S.
Waltham 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.
$329,700±$51kHighest
about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$953±$79
33% below U.S.
$794±$52Lowest
44% below U.S.
$1,096±$113Highest
22% below U.S.
Waltham 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
$5,714Highest
83% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
37.6%±16.4
U.S.: 51.1%
52%±9.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
29.2%±58.6Lowest
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%
26.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
55.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
25% above U.S.
14 minLowest
45% below U.S.
28 min
5% above U.S.
Work from home
5.9%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
8.4%±2.6
U.S.: 15.1%
20.6%±5.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #337 of 484 in NY —
School district — OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT —
High school in town — OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL —
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.2
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On TownTapestry
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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.