1st Advantage MortgageCattaraugus County households have a median income of $59,540 and median rent of $770 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's New York license first.
On this page
- A quick profile of Cattaraugus County
- Rent, home values and ownership in Cattaraugus County
- How much Cattaraugus County households make
- Work, industries and travel time in Cattaraugus County
- Cattaraugus County towns compared
- The counties around Cattaraugus County
- Who lives in Cattaraugus County, in numbers
- What the numbers mean for Cattaraugus County borrowers
- A Cattaraugus County household budget, worked through
- Steps before you apply in Cattaraugus County
- New York rules that apply in Cattaraugus County
- More guides for Cattaraugus County
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Cattaraugus County
With an estimated 76,145 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Cattaraugus County ranks 35th of 62 in New York for population. Land area is 1,308 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 58 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Cattaraugus County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Of the 21 Census places inside Cattaraugus County, Olean leads by population with about 13,738; 11 of the 21 are incorporated.
Rent, home values and ownership in Cattaraugus County
A typical Cattaraugus County rental runs $770 a month including utilities, which is 52% below New York. 46% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 22% spend half or more. With a median value of $113,100, a typical Cattaraugus County house costs 1.9 times what the median household earns in a year. 75% of Cattaraugus County households own their home and 25% rent. Median construction year: 1960.
| Cattaraugus County | New York | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $770/mo | $1,621/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $113,100 | $423,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 75% | 54% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 46% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 24% | 33% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 11.0% | 2.1% | n/a |
Because most Cattaraugus County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
How much Cattaraugus County households make
Cattaraugus County households have a median income of $59,540 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 60th of 62 in New York.
| Households earning | Cattaraugus County | +/- vs New York |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 30.2% | +8.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.5% | +9.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 22.4% | -4.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.9% | -13.2 pts |
The spread is wide: 26% of Cattaraugus County households make $100,000 or more, and 30% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 19.1%, 5 points higher than the state's 14.0%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.441 (0 is perfect equality). Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Work, industries and travel time in Cattaraugus County
The biggest employer of Cattaraugus County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 26% of workers, followed by manufacturing (13%). Compared with New York, the county leans toward manufacturing (13% against 6%). Averaged over the five survey years, 5.0% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 15% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 8% work from home.
| Top industries | Cattaraugus County share | +/- vs New York |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 26.4% | -3.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 13.2% | +7.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.0% | +2.4 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.7% | +1.6 pts |
| Construction | 7.7% | +2.0 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.4% | -6.9 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Cattaraugus County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Cattaraugus County towns compared
The table lists the 14 largest of 21 Census places in Cattaraugus County, by population. Together all 21 hold about 40,178 people, so roughly 47% of residents live outside any named place. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $40,000 in South Dayton to $79,712 in Weston Mills. Rent is cheapest in St. Bonaventure ($588) and steepest in Machias ($1,102). None of the 21 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Olean | city | 13,738 | $51,261 | $794 | 16 mi |
| Salamanca | city | 5,846 | $41,667 | $688 | 7 mi |
| Gowanda | village | 2,683 | $51,828 | $753 | 21 mi |
| St. Bonaventure | CDP | 1,976 | n/a | $588 | 15 mi |
| Franklinville | village | 1,938 | $72,115 | $719 | 12 mi |
| Allegany | village | 1,740 | $70,625 | $772 | 14 mi |
| Weston Mills | CDP | 1,431 | $79,712 | $775 | 19 mi |
| Delevan | village | 1,275 | $64,194 | $817 | 20 mi |
| Little Valley | village | 1,243 | $44,655 | $725 | 7 mi |
| Yorkshire | CDP | 1,138 | n/a | $766 | 22 mi |
| Cattaraugus | village | 1,034 | $60,341 | $683 | 12 mi |
| Randolph | CDP | 953 | $75,571 | $689 | 17 mi |
| Portville | village | 951 | $61,793 | $660 | 22 mi |
| Machias | CDP | 751 | $74,178 | $1,102 | 15 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
The counties around Cattaraugus County
Distances run center to center, from McKean County at 30 miles out to Warren County at 43. 5 of the six report a higher median household income than Cattaraugus County; Erie County is highest at $72,839 and Chautauqua County lowest at $58,351. Some neighbors are in Pennsylvania. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Cattaraugus County resident follows New York rules.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cattaraugus County | - | $59,540 | $770/mo | 75% |
| McKean County, PA | 30 mi | $62,905 | $809/mo | 78% |
| Allegany County, NY | 33 mi | $62,869 | $763/mo | 79% |
| Erie County, NY | 36 mi | $72,839 | $1,090/mo | 66% |
| Chautauqua County, NY | 38 mi | $58,351 | $812/mo | 69% |
| Wyoming County, NY | 39 mi | $69,110 | $802/mo | 76% |
| Warren County, PA | 43 mi | $60,480 | $755/mo | 79% |
Who lives in Cattaraugus County, in numbers
Degree holders: 21% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 6.1%, against 5.1% for New York.
| People and households | Cattaraugus County | New York | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.8 | 39.8 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 21.1% | 40.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 10.5% | 12.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.1% | 5.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 10.7% | 29.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.0% | 14.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 19.1% | 14.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.0% | 6.4% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 42.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 27.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 14.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.7% |
| 60+ min | 7.1% |
What the numbers mean for Cattaraugus County borrowers
What the Cattaraugus County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Free help first. 19% of residents live below the poverty line; utility, rent and food programs cost nothing to repay (free options).
- Tight rental budgets. With 46% of Cattaraugus County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
A Cattaraugus County household budget, worked through
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Cattaraugus County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- $4,962 a month: gross income for a household at the Cattaraugus County median
- Median rent: $770, or 16 cents of every gross dollar
- At 36%, room after rent is $1,016 a month
- Under a 43% cap, $2,134 total minus rent leaves $1,364
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Steps before you apply in Cattaraugus County
Before you apply, wherever you live in Cattaraugus County:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Cattaraugus County.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in New York.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
New York rules that apply in Cattaraugus County
Cattaraugus County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the New York State Department of Financial Services. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. More on New York: New York personal loans.
More guides for Cattaraugus County
For statewide rules and data, see the New York guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Cattaraugus County household make?
About $59,540 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 31% below the New York median.
Is Cattaraugus County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $770 against $1,621 statewide, and 46% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I own my home in Cattaraugus County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 75% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
Which towns does the Cattaraugus County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 21 Census places: Olean, Salamanca, Gowanda, St. Bonaventure, Franklinville.
Is the fit check different in Cattaraugus County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.