Compare towns
Addison vs Amherst vs Pendleton vs Waltham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Addison has the most expensive homes ($362k median).
Amherst has the most renters (30.1% rent).
Pendleton has the most kids (21.6% under 18).
Waltham has the oldest population (median age 60.8).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Addison | Amherst | Pendleton | Waltham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,175 |
130,546Highest |
7,034 |
452Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 53.1±7.6 37% above U.S. |
39.1±0.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
46.7±4.1 20% above U.S. |
60.8±7.3Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Waltham and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±1 U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Pendleton and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.1%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
45.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.3%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,667±$7k 32% above U.S. |
$93,483±$2kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$113,750±$27kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$97,500±$14k 21% above U.S. |
| Pendleton and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,200±$23kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$311,600±$7k 6% below U.S. |
$294,300±$39kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$329,700±$51k about the U.S. average |
| Addison and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,019±$461Highest 43% above U.S. |
$1,393±$45 about the U.S. average |
$994±$119Lowest 30% below U.S. |
$1,096±$113 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,831 87% above U.S. |
$5,935 90% above U.S. |
$6,623Highest 112% above U.S. |
$5,714Lowest 83% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±62.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
6.6%±17.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±58.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Amherst and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±1.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Waltham and Pendleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #72 of 484 in NY | #67 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | — | AMHERST CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · SWEET HOME CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | STARPOINT CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | — | WILLIAMSVILLE NORTH HIGH SCHOOL | STARPOINT HIGH SCHOOL | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Lowest |
14.5Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.