Compare towns
Amherst vs Pendleton vs Rapids
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).
Pendleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).
Rapids has the most kids (26% under 18).
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 | Pendleton | Rapids |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 130,546Highest |
7,034 |
1,655Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9% NY: +4.2% |
+10%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-3.2%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 39.1±0.8Lowest about the NY average |
46.7±4.1Highest 17% above NY |
44±7.7 11% above NY |
| Pendleton and Rapids are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±1Lowest NY: 20.5% |
21.6%±4.8 NY: 20.5% |
26%±8.8Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Rapids and Pendleton 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% |
23%±4.3Highest NY: 17.9% |
17.7%±5.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Pendleton and Amherst 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% |
34.9%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
42.5% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.3%±0.8Highest NY: 7% |
4%±2.1 NY: 7% |
1%±2Lowest NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,483±$2kLowest 9% above NY |
$113,750±$27k 32% above NY |
$121,875±$43kHighest 42% above NY |
| Rapids and Pendleton 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 |
$294,300±$39kLowest 31% below NY |
$294,700±$44k 30% below NY |
| Amherst and Rapids 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 |
$994±$119Lowest 39% below NY |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,935Lowest 10% below NY |
$6,623Highest about the NY average |
$6,522 about the NY average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.1%±4.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
6.6%±17.3 NY: 52.1% |
0%±63.6Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Below poverty line | 10.1%Highest NY: 14% |
9.4% NY: 14% |
5%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.9%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
91.1%Highest NY: 54.3% |
90% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 12 yrs newer than NY |
1978 19 yrs newer than NY |
1985Highest 26 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 39% below NY |
23 min 31% below NY |
25 minHighest 25% below NY |
| Work from home | 15.9%±1.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
18.4%±6.6Highest NY: 14.9% |
18.1%±14.6 NY: 14.9% |
| Pendleton and Rapids 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 |
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.