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Moving to Olean, New York

Olean pays new residents up to $4,000 through Live & Work in Olean. Here is what life costs in Cattaraugus County, home of Olean, where people work, what there is to do, and remote jobs you can bring with you.
  • $4,000Paid to move hereLive & Work in Olean
  • $113,100Typical home value1Cattaraugus County
  • $770Typical rent1Utilities included
  • 75,390Population-2.1% since 2020

By Sol Lakein.Checked November 4, 2026.How we compare costs

Get paid to move to Olean

Tap a program for who qualifies, how it pays, whether it is open and the official link.

Every program in New York

Something to know about Olean

Did you know?

Olean, founded in 1804, takes its name from the Latin word for oil, a nod to nearby Oil Spring, which the city cites as the site of the first petroleum discovery in North America.

Source: City of Olean, read November 2026

A fact about Olean

What it costs to live in Olean

Cattaraugus County next to New York and the US.1
MeasureCattaraugus CountyNew YorkUnited States
Typical home value$113,100$423,800$332,700
Monthly owner costs with a mortgage$1,263$2,555$1,963
Typical rent, with utilities$770$1,621$1,413
Typical household income$59,540$85,974$80,734
Homes lived in by their owners75.2%54.3%65.2%
Households with broadband83.9%90.8%91.0%
Average commute, one way23 min33 min26 min

On the typical home here, the mortgage comes to about $622 a month2.

Jobs and work in Cattaraugus County

  • 19,887Jobs at local employers2023, -0.3% vs 2022
  • 1,501Employer businesses2023
  • 4,071Self-employed businessesNonemployer firms, 2024
  • 83.9%Households with broadbandUS: 91.0%

55.2% of residents 16 and older are in the labor force, the average commute is 22.6 minutes, and 21.1% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree1,3. Builders pulled permits for 150 new homes in 2025.

Remote jobs you can do from Olean

Current remote openings for people living in the US.

Loading current remote jobs.

Things to do in Olean

Notable places in Cattaraugus County, by type.4

Parks, lakes and the outdoors

  • Allegheny Reservoir
  • Red House Lake
  • Lime Lake
  • Skim Lake
  • Boardman Park

Museums, theaters and libraries

  • Griffis Sculpture Park
  • Randolph Historic District
  • Union and State Streets Historic District
  • Cattaraugus County Center for the Performing Arts
  • Cattaraugus Village Commercial Historic District

Thinking about Olean? Get the free moving guide

12 pages: what a move costs, hiring movers safely, an 8-week checklist and how to apply for programs like these.

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Moving to Olean: questions people ask

Does Olean pay you to move there?

Yes. Live & Work in Olean: $4,000 cash. Each program has its own rules, status and official link on its page, checked October 30, 2026.

How much does it cost to live in Olean?

In Cattaraugus County, the median owner-occupied home is valued at $113,100 and median gross rent is $770 a month (US Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). New York: $423,800 and $1,621. United States: $332,700 and $1,413. With 20% down at 7.32%, principal and interest on a home at the county median value come to about $622 a month (our arithmetic).

Is Olean a good place to live?

It depends on what you need. On the numbers: home values in Cattaraugus County are below the US median, household income is below the US median, and the population fell 2.1% from April 2020 to July 2025 (US Census Bureau). Visit before you decide.

Can I work remotely from Olean?

83.9% of households in Cattaraugus County have a broadband subscription (US: 91.0%; ACS 2020-2024). Check the program rules for job requirements.

What is there to do in Olean?

Notable places in Cattaraugus County include Allegheny Reservoir, Red House Lake, Griffis Sculpture Park, Randolph Historic District. The full list by type is on this page (Wikidata).

Notes on the numbers
  1. 1Costs and people: US Census Bureau QuickFacts, American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimates (dollars in 2024 terms), read November 4, 2026. "Typical" is the median. Census figures cover all homes and renters, not just recent sales or new leases. QuickFacts
  2. 2Mortgage: principal and interest on the county's typical home value with 20% down at 7.32% (Freddie Mac 30-year fixed average, week of October 22, 2026), our arithmetic. Rate source
  3. 3Jobs and businesses: US Census Bureau QuickFacts, County Business Patterns 2023, Nonemployer Statistics 2024, Building Permits Survey 2025, ACS 2020-2024.
  4. 4Things to do: notable places from Wikidata (CC0), read November 4, 2026. Know a place we should add? Email hello@slowersundays.com.
Sources for this page