Untitled photo, 2007
Bolivar’s story
201 years in pictures
Census counts: 449 in 1830, a peak of 2,813 in 1930, 2,051 in 2020. The archive holds 4 old photos and papers going back to 2007 and 3 maps from 1925 on.
- 1825Bolivar is settled
BolivarNY
Photo: Unknown artistUnknown artist · Public domain
Population
1,005
2025 Census estimate · −2.9% since 2020
Typical home
$110K
+8.7% in a year
Household income
$56K
median
Median age
37.3
years
Jobs based here
249
A commuter town
Is Bolivar a good place to live?
The best of Bolivar’s subject grades are an A for cost of living and history; the weakest is a D for incomes. Only 17 of New York’s 1,215 towns score higher on cost of living. Bolivar has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
What makes Bolivar stand out
Where Bolivar beats most towns.
Small town
1,005 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
How Bolivar grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within New York), ordered by how far Bolivar is from typical.
Jobs & income$56K median household incomeDOpen →Cost of livingAOpen →Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listC−Open →HealthJones Memorial Hospital 11.7 miles awayCOpen →SchoolsBehind 65% of New York districts on tests and graduationC+Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 5.2 of 20; 18.4% of households have no car; 8.4% of workers walk, bike or ride transitBOpen →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
OutdoorsConserved land, trails and parksB+Open →History1 notable person born hereAOpen →Civic life4.2 library visits per resident; 3.4 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsC+Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Bolivar: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Bolivar, and how to reach them.
PowerRochester Gas & Electric22.0¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterBolivar-Richburg Water SystemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet3 providers97% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Bolivar’s trash rules yet
Register to voteOnlineIn New York you can register online until 10 days before Election Day, in person until 10 days before Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 15 days before and received 10 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereAllegany County Board of ElectionsAllegany County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Aug 2021
ZIP code1471514715 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Aug 3, 2026.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Bolivar.
HousingCost of living grade A
In Bolivar, the median rent runs lower than in the typical New York or U.S. town
Bolivar’s median rent is $461 a month, below both New York’s towns ($1,101 a month) and U.S. towns ($1,185 a month). Typical home values rose 8.7% in the year to September 2026. 66% of Bolivar households own their home.
$110KZillow home value
| Bolivar | New York towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $461 a month | $1,101 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 66% | 75% | 73% |
Typical home value
Bolivar$110K
New York$525K
+8.7%
value change, 1 year
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Work & commuteJobs & income grade D
With 0.6 jobs for every working resident, most of Bolivar’s workers commute out
Most working residents leave Bolivar for work: only 5% work in town. 19% of Bolivar residents live below the poverty line, against 9.5% in New York’s towns and 9.6% across U.S. towns. Jobs based in Bolivar grew to 249 in 2023, 96 more than in 2013.
5%work in town
| Bolivar | New York towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 19% | 9.5% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $56,000 | $82,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 21 minutes | 25 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Working residents who work in town | 5.5% | 10% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In Bolivar5%
Olean14%
Wellsville11%
Bolivar8%
Amity4%
14 mi
median commute distance
249
jobs based in Bolivar
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
B
Walkability grade: more walkable than 60% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
HealthC
Bolivar is less healthy than 75% of U.S. towns
Bolivar beats the New York average on 0 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 14. 18% of adults smoke cigarettes in Bolivar.
25%healthier than U.S. townsCHealth Grade
| Bolivar | New York towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 13% | 14% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 16% | 14% | 14% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 16% | 17% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 38% | 33% | 35% |
32 measures vs. New York
0 better18 too close to call14 worse
| What stands out | Bolivar | NY |
|---|---|---|
| More adults with COPD | 9.8% | 6% |
| More smokers | 18.2% | 11.3% |
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 17.2% | 12.8% |
Jones Memorial Hospital
11.7 mi away · emergency room
2 of 3
care shortages: primary care, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade C−
Inland flooding leads a high hazard risk in Bolivar
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 72% of U.S. communities. One flood insurance claim has been paid in Bolivar since 2021.
72risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingTornadoes
1
paid flood claims since 2021
2
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Climate
In Bolivar, expect snowy winters and pleasant summers
Bolivar has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. The July high in Bolivar is 79°F.
103″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter17–34°
Spring32–56°
Summer53–78°
Fall38–59°
Oct 2
typical first frost
May 15
typical last frost
+1.1°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Safety
Crime reported in Bolivar
18 crimes were reported in Bolivar in 2025: 17 property and 1 violent. In a town this small, a few incidents move the numbers a lot, so rates aren't shown.
Bolivar is small, so we show counts rather than rates.
1
violent crimes reported in 2025
17
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Who lives here
An age mix much like New York’s
No broad age group is more than 4 points off the New York average. Bolivar’s median age is 37.3 years. Bolivar has lost 2.9% of its people since 2020, down to 1,005 in the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate.
37.3median age · NY 39.8
| Bolivar | New York towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.3 years | 43 years | 40.5 years |
| Under 18 | 24% | 20% | 22% |
| Aged 65 or older | 16% | 20% | 18% |
BolivarNew YorkUnited States
Ages · share of residents
19%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma10%
High school27%
Some college17%
Associate’s15%
Bachelor’s22%
Graduate10%
Women and men · all residents
50% women, 50% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±4.5 points. Across New York, 51.2% of residents are women.
| Bolivar | NY | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 10.8% | 11% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 13.5% | 9.5% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 9.3% | 8.9% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 12.3% | 14.2% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 18.6% | 13% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 8.7% | 12.2% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 10.6% | 13.3% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 9.1% | 10.3% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 7.2% | 7.6% | 7% |
| No diploma | 10% | 12% | 10.4% |
| High school | 26.8% | 24.3% | 26% |
| Some college | 17.3% | 14.6% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 14.5% | 8.8% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 21.6% | 22.4% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 9.9% | 17.9% | 14.1% |
Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 1,000, single groups can be off by several points
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Bolivar
19pages on Bolivar
The big questions
SchoolsC+Behind 65% of NY districtsSafety1 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthCBetter than NY on 0 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingA$110K typical home · up 8.7% in a yearWork & commuteD$56K median household income · 249 jobs hereNatural hazardsC−FEMA risk higher than 72% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
Day to day
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Bolivar; the nearest are
St Bonaventure UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Saint Bonaventure16.2 mi$41,735 tuitionSUNY College of Technology at AlfredUniversity or college · Public · Alfred23 mi$8,892 in-state tuitionNorthern Pennsylvania Regional CollegeCommunity college · Public · Warren, PA52.7 mi$4,440 in-state tuition
About 5 of every 100 Bolivar residents are enrolled in college, against 7 across New York.
A commuter town
95% of working residents leave Bolivar for work
Where Bolivar’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
249jobs based in Bolivar
5%of working residents work in town
14 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Bolivar
Town in New York, United States
Bolivar ( BOL-i-vər) is a town in Allegany County, New York, United States. The population was 2,051 at the 2020 census. The town is named after Simón Bolívar. Bolivar is on the south border of the county and is east of Olean. There is also a village of Bolivar in the town. As "the heart of the Allegany Oil Field" the Bolivar-Richburg area rose to significance during the oil boom era of the late 1800s. During the brief initial oil boom of the 1880s it was purportedly the wealthiest locale, per capita, in the United States. By the early 1900s the initial boom, with its economic and population impacts, had significantly faded, but secondary oil recovery techniques applied to the oil fields (s…
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1825
- Area
- 36 sq mi
- Area code
- 585
Questions about Bolivar
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Bolivar, NY expensive?
Not for the area. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades A.