Compare towns
Amsterdam vs Brant vs Olean
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Amsterdam has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.2%).
Brant has the highest household income ($90k).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k 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.
| Measure | Amsterdam | Brant | Olean |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,166Highest |
2,224Lowest |
13,738 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-7.4%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-3.6% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 39.5±1.2 about the NY average |
49.7±2.5Highest 25% above NY |
39±2.6Lowest about the NY average |
| Kids under 18 | 23%±2.3 NY: 20.5% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest NY: 20.5% |
23.5%±2.9Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Olean and Amsterdam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.1Highest NY: 17.9% |
17.7%±3.3Lowest NY: 17.9% |
19.1%±2.5 NY: 17.9% |
| Amsterdam and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.5%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
24.7% NY: 40.2% |
29.9%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1Highest NY: 7% |
2.1%±1.7Lowest NY: 7% |
3.6%±1.1 NY: 7% |
| Amsterdam and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $56,178±$8k 35% below NY |
$89,531±$24kHighest 4% above NY |
$51,261±$7kLowest 40% below NY |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $137,900±$11k 67% below NY |
$201,100±$22kHighest 53% below NY |
$86,100±$6kLowest 80% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,006±$45 38% below NY |
$1,089±$121Highest 33% below NY |
$794±$52Lowest 51% below NY |
| Brant and Amsterdam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,369Highest 34% below NY |
$3,528 46% below NY |
$3,130Lowest 52% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.4%±6.8Lowest NY: 52.1% |
48.8%±13.9 NY: 52.1% |
52%±9.1Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Olean and Brant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 20.2% NY: 14% |
16.4%Lowest NY: 14% |
26.7%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
75.9%Highest NY: 54.3% |
55.1% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1953Highest 6 yrs older than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 37% below NY |
26 minHighest 21% below NY |
14 minLowest 56% below NY |
| Work from home | 10.5%±3.2 NY: 14.9% |
14.5%±5.5Highest NY: 14.9% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Brant and Amsterdam 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 | — | #337 of 484 in NY |
| School district | AMSTERDAM CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | None in town | — | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.2 |
| 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.