The Town FilesOlean, New York
City in Cattaraugus County · population 13,937 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $86,100
- Household income
- $51,261
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 65 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 39.0
Olean is a city of 13,937 people in Cattaraugus County, New York. The median home is worth $86,100, below the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks better for cycling than 94% of New York towns, hipper than 92% of New York towns, more walkable than 90% of New York towns.
How Olean ranks
Percentile among New York towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New York towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Olean is worth $86,100, below the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 1.7 times the median household income of $51,261, which is more affordable than 94% of New York towns. Median rent is $794 a month. 55.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Olean | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $86,100 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $794 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $51,261 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.7× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 55.1% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Olean
| People | Olean | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.0 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.1% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 23.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.9% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 26.7% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 5.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.2% | — |
| Work from home | 8.4% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 14.4 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.0% | 91.1% |
Weather in Olean
July highs average 80.3°F and January lows 13.1°F. About 40.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 64.7 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 2 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 150 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Olean since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 15, 1961 about 4.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 24, 2010.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 8 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on April 28, 2002.
Severe weather in Cattaraugus County since 1996
Cattaraugus County has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| November 20, 2022 | Winter Storm | EM-3589: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| March 20, 2020 | Biological | DR-4480: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3434: Covid-19 |
| December 22, 2014 | Snowstorm | DR-4204: Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding |
| July 8, 2014 | Severe Storm | DR-4180: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Cattaraugus County
Cattaraugus County had 27,671 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,047 a year. Unemployment was 4.3% in 2023; in Olean itself the ACS puts it at 6.3%.
Public schools in Olean
5 public schools with 2,345 students, about 7.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | 8-12 | 658 | 11.2 |
| OLEAN INTERMEDIATE-MIDDLE SCHOOL | 3-12 | 544 | 9.2 |
| CATTARAUGUS-ALLEGANY-ERIE-WYOMING BOCES | K-12 | 480 | 3.2 |
| EAST VIEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-3 | 359 | 11.6 |
| WASHINGTON WEST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-3 | 304 | 10.9 |
Towns near Olean
- Portville, NY4.7 mi · 3,504 people · home $118,600
- Allegany, NY5.0 mi · 7,493 people · home $169,400
- Foster, PA12.6 mi · 4,038 people · home $99,200
- Cuba, NY13.1 mi · 3,126 people · home $113,000
- Bradford, PA13.6 mi · 7,849 people · home $85,600
- Franklinville, NY15.6 mi · 2,802 people · home $99,300
- Salamanca, NY15.8 mi · 5,929 people · home $80,900
- Bradford, PA17.4 mi · 4,793 people · home $171,900
Olean questions
Is Olean, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Olean scores better for retirees than 7% of New York towns and quieter than 12%. 19.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.0).
How much does a house cost in Olean?
The median owner-occupied home in Olean is valued at $86,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $51,261, so homes cost about 1.7 times income. Median rent is $794 a month.
What is the weather like in Olean?
July highs average 80.3°F and January lows 13.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 40.7 inches of precipitation a year and 64.7 inches of snow.
Does Olean get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Olean since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 15, 1961. The typical New York town has had 5.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)