Compare towns
Amsterdam vs Brookline vs Olean
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Amsterdam has the most renters (47% rent).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
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 | Brookline | Olean |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,166Highest |
531Lowest |
13,738 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.5±1.2 about the U.S. average |
45.1±2.7Highest 16% above U.S. |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 23%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
20%±6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brookline 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 30% below U.S. |
$80,833±$16kHighest about the U.S. average |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $137,900±$11k 59% below U.S. |
$290,700±$37kHighest 13% below U.S. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,006±$45 29% below U.S. |
$1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S. |
$794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,369 40% above U.S. |
$5,000Highest 60% above U.S. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.4%±6.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±94.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Olean and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 20.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 22% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 |
U.S. 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.