Compare towns
Wright vs Olean vs Waltham 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).
Waltham has the oldest population (median age 60.8).
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 | Waltham | Knox |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,739 |
13,738Highest |
452Lowest |
2,559 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -2.1% 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. |
49.8±6.7 28% 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% |
17.2%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Olean and Knox 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% |
45.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±2.7 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% |
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% |
3.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Knox 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. |
$97,500±$14k 21% above U.S. |
$124,083±$14kHighest 54% above U.S. |
| Knox and Waltham 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 |
$299,800±$37k 10% below U.S. |
| Waltham and Knox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $953±$79 33% below U.S. |
$794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$1,096±$113 22% below U.S. |
$1,125±$44Highest 20% below U.S. |
| Knox and Waltham 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. |
$4,451 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.6%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±58.6Lowest 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% |
5.3%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% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.8%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. |
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. |
28 min 5% above 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% |
20.6%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±8.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Waltham and Knox 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 | — | — |
| High school in town | — | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — | — |
| 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.