Compare towns
Amsterdam vs Chester 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.2%).
Chester has the most expensive homes ($233k median).
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 | Chester | Olean |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,166Highest |
2,992Lowest |
13,738 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.5±1.2 about the U.S. average |
49.7±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 23%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest 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% |
29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester 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±$8k 30% below U.S. |
$62,125±$8kHighest 23% below U.S. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Chester and Amsterdam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $137,900±$11k 59% below U.S. |
$232,900±$44kHighest 30% below U.S. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,006±$45Highest 29% below U.S. |
$960±$44 32% below U.S. |
$794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S. |
| Amsterdam and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,369Highest 40% above U.S. |
$4,262 37% above U.S. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.4%±6.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Olean and Amsterdam 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% |
7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 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 5% above U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chester 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 | #49 of 70 in VT | #337 of 484 in NY |
| School district | AMSTERDAM CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7Lowest |
12.2Highest |
| 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.