Olean
RANK #321 / 996 NAT · #20 / 45 NY · POP 77,000
1YR FORECAST: +1.6%
5YR OUTLOOK: +28%
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.
Below national median
Below-average climate & terrain
Housing looks undervalued at 2.7x — home prices are low 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.
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 996 counties.
With a Boom Town Index score of 68/100, Cattaraugus County sits in the upper half of all 996 ranked counties. and median household income stands at $56,889 — indicators that suggest solid fundamentals even if it's not among the fastest-growing counties in NY.
By national standards, Cattaraugus County is quite affordable. Homes here have a median value of $105,100, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.54 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $745/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.
Population and employment in Cattaraugus County are both close to flat — population -0.3% YoY and jobs +0.2%. Home values shifted +2.2% over the past 12 months. A steady-state county, neither expanding quickly nor shrinking.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 2.45% 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.