What stands out worked out from the figures below

Amherst has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).

Sennett has the most homeowners (91.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Amherst	Sennett
People
Population	130,546Highest	3,264Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.9%Highest NY: +4.2%	-8.1%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	39.1±0.8Lowest about the NY average	47.6±4.2Highest 20% above NY
Kids under 18	19.2%±1Lowest NY: 20.5%	19.4%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5%
	Sennett and Amherst 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%	24.7%±4.3Highest NY: 17.9%
	Sennett 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%	35.4%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.3%±0.8Highest NY: 7%	1.8%±1.5Lowest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$93,483±$2kLowest 9% above NY	$101,585±$18kHighest 18% above NY
	Sennett 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	$279,300±$33kLowest 34% below NY
	Amherst and Sennett 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	$978±$217Lowest 40% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,935Highest 10% below NY	$5,397Lowest 18% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.1%±4.3Highest NY: 52.1%	49%±36.7Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Amherst and Sennett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.1%Highest NY: 14%	5.1%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.9%Lowest NY: 54.3%	91.2%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 12 yrs newer than NY	1973Highest 14 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 39% below NY	21 minHighest 36% below NY
Work from home	15.9%±1.4Highest NY: 14.9%	8.5%±3.9Lowest NY: 14.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#72 of 484 in NY	—
School district	AMHERST CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · SWEET HOME CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	NEW YORK STATE OFFICE OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES (OCFS)
High school in town	WILLIAMSVILLE NORTH HIGH SCHOOL	HARRIET TUBMAN RESIDENTIAL CENTER
Students per teacherat that high school	11.2	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.