Olean

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Olean, NY

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Small-town living with breathtaking mountain views

Peaceful Mountains Architecture Businesses

Once a hub of 20th century oil and timber industries, Olean is a quiet small town in the southwest corner of New York. The largest city in Cattaraugus County, Olean is a sleepy little city that’s provided with some truly amazing views. Colonial Revival homes overlook Victorian mansions, which overlook the namesake creek and mountains in the distance.

There are plenty of family-owned businesses in Olean, as well as all the requisite big-box stores to take care of any need. Alleghany National Forest makes for a popular outdoor destination that’s just minutes from the city. There’s miles of hiking trails and picturesque camping sites to explore.

Sometimes called “Little Buffalo,” Olean is making a push for revitalizing the city center. With its relative affordability, beautiful surroundings, and comforting atmosphere, it’s a great place to settle down.

Rent Trends

As of March 2025, the average apartment rent in Olean, NY is $926 for a studio, $791 for one bedroom, $1,269 for two bedrooms, and $550 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Olean has increased by 1.5% in the past year.

Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$791/month
94 Sq Ft
See Rental Market Trends in Olean, NY

Transportation

56

Somewhat Walkable

out of 100 WalkScore® Rating

You might be able to get out and walk when living in this area. Some errands can be accomplished on foot, but for others you’ll need a car.

52

Bikeable

out of 100 BikeScore® Rating

While there’s some bike infrastructure in this area, you’ll still need a car for many errands.

Schools

Olean Middle School

Public

Grades 2-7 & 9-10

564 Students

4
out of 10

Washington West Elementary School

Public

Grades PK-3

304 Students

4
out of 10

East View Elementary School

Public

Grades PK-3

337 Students

3
out of 10

Olean Middle School

Public

Grades 2-7 & 9-10

564 Students

4
out of 10

Olean Senior High School

Public

Grades 8-12

659 Students

3
out of 10

Olean Middle School

Public

Grades 2-7 & 9-10

564 Students

4
out of 10

Olean Senior High School

Public

Grades 8-12

659 Students

3
out of 10

Points of Interest

Parks and Recreation

  • Pfeiffer Nature Center
  • Nine Mile State Forest

Top Apartments in Olean

Houses for Rent in Olean

Methodology

† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.

Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.

Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2025.