Compare towns

Amherst vs Chenango vs Evans vs Pendleton

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 renters (30.1% rent).
Chenango has the most kids (22.7% under 18).
Evans has the oldest population (median age 49.5).
Pendleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).

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.

MeasureAmherstChenangoEvansPendleton
People
Population
130,546Highest
10,787
15,183
7,034Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.9%
NY: +4.2%
-2.6%
NY: +4.2%
-6.4%Lowest
NY: +4.2%
+10%Highest
NY: +4.2%
Median age
39.1±0.8Lowest
about the NY average
41±2.8
3% above NY
49.5±2.8Highest
24% above NY
46.7±4.1
17% above NY
Evans 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%
22.7%±3Highest
NY: 20.5%
15.7%±2.2Lowest
NY: 20.5%
21.6%±4.8
NY: 20.5%
Chenango and Pendleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.5%±0.9Lowest
NY: 17.9%
22.6%±2.6
NY: 17.9%
24.1%±2.5Highest
NY: 17.9%
23%±4.3
NY: 17.9%
Evans 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%
35.2%
NY: 40.2%
22.3%Lowest
NY: 40.2%
34.9%
NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
13.3%±0.8Highest
NY: 7%
4.8%±2
NY: 7%
3.6%±0.9Lowest
NY: 7%
4%±2.1
NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$93,483±$2k
9% above NY
$86,646±$9k
about the NY average
$72,467±$8kLowest
16% below NY
$113,750±$27kHighest
32% above NY
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
$172,000±$9kLowest
59% below NY
$176,500±$10k
58% below NY
$294,300±$39k
31% 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
$1,038±$97
36% below NY
$919±$104Lowest
43% below NY
$994±$119
39% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,935
10% below NY
$3,700Lowest
44% below NY
$4,590
30% below NY
$6,623Highest
about the NY average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
53.1%±4.3Highest
NY: 52.1%
41.7%±8.7
NY: 52.1%
25.7%±10.7
NY: 52.1%
6.6%±17.3Lowest
NY: 52.1%
Amherst and Chenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
10.1%
NY: 14%
9.1%Lowest
NY: 14%
11.9%Highest
NY: 14%
9.4%
NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
69.9%Lowest
NY: 54.3%
85.3%
NY: 54.3%
86.2%
NY: 54.3%
91.1%Highest
NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971
12 yrs newer than NY
1964
5 yrs newer than NY
1957Lowest
2 yrs older than NY
1978Highest
19 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 minLowest
39% below NY
24 min
27% below NY
29 minHighest
11% below NY
23 min
31% below NY
Work from home
15.9%±1.4
NY: 14.9%
13.8%±3.2
NY: 14.9%
8.8%±2.4Lowest
NY: 14.9%
18.4%±6.6Highest
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 #233 of 484 in NY #180 of 484 in NY #67 of 484 in NY
School district AMHERST CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · SWEET HOME CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT CHENANGO FORKS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT EVANS-BRANT CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT (LAKE SHORE) STARPOINT CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town WILLIAMSVILLE NORTH HIGH SCHOOL CHENANGO FORKS HIGH SCHOOL LAKE SHORE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL STARPOINT HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school
11.2
11.1
10.6Lowest
14.5Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.