Compare towns
Amherst vs Champlain vs Pendleton vs Wright
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Amherst has the most expensive homes ($312k median).
Champlain has the most affordable homes ($123k median).
Pendleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).
Wright has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
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 | Amherst | Champlain | Pendleton | Wright |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 130,546Highest |
1,270Lowest |
7,034 |
1,739 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9% NY: +4.2% |
+6.3% NY: +4.2% |
+10%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-1.5%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 39.1±0.8Lowest about the NY average |
39.6±14 about the NY average |
46.7±4.1 17% above NY |
51.4±4.7Highest 29% above NY |
| Wright and Pendleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±1 NY: 20.5% |
19.1%±7.2 NY: 20.5% |
21.6%±4.8Highest NY: 20.5% |
16.7%±3.1Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Pendleton and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±0.9 NY: 17.9% |
24.1%±3.9Highest NY: 17.9% |
23%±4.3 NY: 17.9% |
21.4%±1.9Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Champlain and Pendleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.3%Highest NY: 40.2% |
27.4% NY: 40.2% |
34.9% NY: 40.2% |
24.4%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.3%±0.8Highest NY: 7% |
6.2%±6.6 NY: 7% |
4%±2.1 NY: 7% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest NY: 7% |
| Amherst and Champlain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $93,483±$2k 9% above NY |
$65,000±$26kLowest 24% below NY |
$113,750±$27kHighest 32% above NY |
$86,250±$13k about the NY average |
| Pendleton and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $311,600±$7kHighest 26% below NY |
$122,700±$36kLowest 71% below NY |
$294,300±$39k 31% below NY |
$242,000±$36k 43% below NY |
| Amherst and Pendleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,393±$45Highest 14% below NY |
$1,071±$126 34% below NY |
$994±$119 39% below NY |
$953±$79Lowest 41% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,935 10% below NY |
$2,626Lowest 60% below NY |
$6,623Highest about the NY average |
$5,279 20% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.1%±4.3 NY: 52.1% |
58.6%±23.9Highest NY: 52.1% |
6.6%±17.3Lowest NY: 52.1% |
37.6%±16.4 NY: 52.1% |
| Champlain and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.1% NY: 14% |
12.5%Highest NY: 14% |
9.4% NY: 14% |
7%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.9% NY: 54.3% |
59%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
91.1%Highest NY: 54.3% |
80.6% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 12 yrs newer than NY |
1948Lowest 11 yrs older than NY |
1978 19 yrs newer than NY |
1983Highest 24 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 39% below NY |
20 minLowest 39% below NY |
23 min 31% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
| Work from home | 15.9%±1.4 NY: 14.9% |
8.7%±9 NY: 14.9% |
18.4%±6.6Highest NY: 14.9% |
5.9%±2.8Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Pendleton and Amherst 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 | #54 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 |
NY 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.