Compare towns
Amsterdam vs Brasher 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 the most people working from home (10.5%).
Brasher has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).
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 | Brasher | Olean |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,166Highest |
2,592Lowest |
13,738 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2% NY: +4.2% |
+4.6%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-3.6%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 39.5±1.2 about the NY average |
46.6±9Highest 17% above NY |
39±2.6Lowest about the NY average |
| Brasher and Amsterdam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23%±2.3 NY: 20.5% |
18.4%±6.2Lowest 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%±2.1 NY: 17.9% |
23.5%±5Highest NY: 17.9% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Brasher 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% NY: 40.2% |
10.6%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
29.9%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1 NY: 7% |
4.4%±2.2Highest NY: 7% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest NY: 7% |
| Brasher and Amsterdam 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 |
$53,911±$14k 37% below NY |
$51,261±$7kLowest 40% below NY |
| Amsterdam and Brasher are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $137,900±$11kHighest 67% below NY |
$124,300±$24k 71% below NY |
$86,100±$6kLowest 80% below NY |
| Amsterdam and Brasher 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 |
$730±$195Lowest 55% below NY |
$794±$52 51% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,369Highest 34% below NY |
$2,500Lowest 62% below NY |
$3,130 52% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.4%±6.8Lowest NY: 52.1% |
74.3%±27.2Highest NY: 52.1% |
52%±9.1 NY: 52.1% |
| Brasher and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 20.2%Lowest NY: 14% |
22.4% NY: 14% |
26.7%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
75.4%Highest NY: 54.3% |
55.1% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1978Highest 19 yrs newer than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minHighest 37% below NY |
20 min 37% below NY |
14 minLowest 56% below NY |
| Work from home | 10.5%±3.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
1.9%±1.8Lowest NY: 14.9% |
8.4%±2.6 NY: 14.9% |
| Amsterdam and Olean 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 | #300 of 484 in NY | #337 of 484 in NY |
| School district | AMSTERDAM CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | BRASHER FALLS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | None 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.