RANK #79 / 1001 NAT · #4 / 45 NY · POP 76,145
1YR FORECAST: +2.4%
5YR OUTLOOK: +37%
Allegany State Park, the largest state park in New York, anchors Cattaraugus County, offering 65,000 acres of forests, lakes, and trails for year-round recreation. Located in Western New York, bordering Pennsylvania, the county is known as the "Enchanted Mountains" due to its rugged, un-glaciated landscape of rolling hills and valleys. Major roadways like Interstate 86 and U.S. Route 219 provide access, and while public transportation exists within Olean and to Ellicottville, many residents rely on driving. The community feel is generally described as small and personable.
Life in Cattaraugus County offers a lower cost of living compared to many parts of New York. Public schools in the county are rated above average, with several districts serving the area. The economy is seeing efforts to foster entrepreneurship and attract private sector investment. Recent economic development strategies focus on aligning existing resources across entrepreneurship, workforce, and traditional economic development functions, supported by regional investments. The county also benefits from ongoing investment in energy sectors, including natural gas extraction.
Cattaraugus County's data profile doesn't fit any single market profile cleanly — its housing, labor, and demographic signals pull in different directions (home prices +3.5% YoY, population -0.4%, wages +3.2%). About 414 U.S. counties show this kind of mixed-signal pattern.
See all 414 Idiosyncratic Markets counties →Below national median (11.3x)
Below-average climate & terrain
Below national median (15x)
Housing is fairly valued at 5.5x relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Alle-Catt Wind Energy Center
Invenergy LLC
|
$619M | Under Construction |
|
Hemlock Hollow Wind Project
Liberty Renewables
|
$95M | Proposed |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
Cattaraugus County ranks #79 out of 1001 U.S. counties on the Boom Town Index with a score of 92/100, putting it in the top tier nationally. Job growth of +1.7% and a median household income of $59,540 point to a county with active economic momentum.
By national standards, Cattaraugus County is quite affordable. Homes here have a median value of $113,100, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.53 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $770/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.
Employers in Cattaraugus County are hiring — job growth of +1.7% — but the population is close to flat (-0.4% YoY). Home values moved +3.5% over the past year. Labor demand is outpacing local population growth, which tends to tighten wages and housing.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 2.05% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Cattaraugus County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.