What stands out worked out from the figures below

Amsterdam has the most people working from home (10.5%).

Auburn has the most expensive homes ($153k median).

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	Amsterdam	Auburn
People
Population	18,166Lowest	26,285Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.2%Highest NY: +4.2%	-3%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	39.5±1.2Lowest about the NY average	41.1±1.1Highest 3% above NY
	Auburn and Amsterdam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23%±2.3Highest NY: 20.5%	19%±1.7Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Amsterdam and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.5%±2.1Lowest NY: 17.9%	21.6%±1.9Highest NY: 17.9%
	Auburn and Amsterdam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	22.5%Highest NY: 40.2%	21%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±1Highest NY: 7%	2.7%±0.7Lowest NY: 7%
	Amsterdam and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$56,178±$8kHighest 35% below NY	$51,052±$5kLowest 41% below NY
	Amsterdam and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$137,900±$11kLowest 67% below NY	$152,800±$9kHighest 64% below NY
	Auburn and Amsterdam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,006±$45Highest 38% below NY	$897±$50Lowest 45% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,369Highest 34% below NY	$3,998Lowest 39% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.4%±6.8Lowest NY: 52.1%	55%±7.8Highest NY: 52.1%
	Auburn and Amsterdam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	20.2%Highest NY: 14%	19.5%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	53%Highest NY: 54.3%	48.6%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY	1947Highest 12 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minHighest 37% below NY	20 minLowest 40% below NY
Work from home	10.5%±3.2Highest NY: 14.9%	5.7%±1.8Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Amsterdam and Auburn 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	#474 of 484 in NY	#374 of 484 in NY
School district	AMSTERDAM CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT	AUBURN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	None in town	AUBURN HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	13.8
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.