RANK #308 / 996 · POP 77,000 · NY
PROJECTED GROWTH: +1.5%
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.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
| 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.
Cattaraugus County has a Boom Town Index score of 69/100, ranking #308 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at +0.2% and a median household income of $56,889, it's an above-average county on economic indicators.
The median home value in Cattaraugus County is $105,100 with median rent at $745/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.5413, which is more affordable than the national average.
Population growth: -0.3% year-over-year. Job growth: +0.2%. Home values changed +2.2% in the past 12 months.
Yes — 2.45% of Cattaraugus County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.