Compare towns
Amsterdam vs Ellery vs Olean vs Lockport
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%).
Ellery has the most expensive homes ($236k median).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Lockport has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.4%).
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 | Ellery | Olean | Lockport |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,166 |
4,073Lowest |
13,738 |
20,610Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2% NY: +4.2% |
-9%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-3.6% NY: +4.2% |
-1.4%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 39.5±1.2 about the NY average |
56.1±4.5Highest 41% above NY |
39±2.6 about the NY average |
36.8±2Lowest 8% below NY |
| Kids under 18 | 23%±2.3 NY: 20.5% |
14.3%±3.8Lowest NY: 20.5% |
23.5%±2.9Highest NY: 20.5% |
21.5%±2.4 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% |
30.8%±6.6Highest NY: 17.9% |
19.1%±2.5 NY: 17.9% |
16.3%±1.9Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.5%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
40%Highest NY: 40.2% |
29.9% NY: 40.2% |
24.6% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1 NY: 7% |
4.4%±2.2 NY: 7% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest NY: 7% |
5.6%±1.5Highest NY: 7% |
| Lockport and Ellery 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 |
$86,833±$12kHighest about the NY average |
$51,261±$7kLowest 40% below NY |
$62,410±$7k 27% below NY |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $137,900±$11k 67% below NY |
$235,900±$29kHighest 44% below NY |
$86,100±$6kLowest 80% below NY |
$139,900±$11k 67% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,006±$45Highest 38% below NY |
$845±$189 48% below NY |
$794±$52Lowest 51% below NY |
$945±$43 42% below NY |
| Amsterdam and Lockport 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 |
$3,796 42% below NY |
$3,130Lowest 52% below NY |
$4,022 39% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.4%±6.8 NY: 52.1% |
35.9%±16.8Lowest NY: 52.1% |
52%±9.1Highest NY: 52.1% |
40.3%±7.1 NY: 52.1% |
| 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% NY: 14% |
9.2%Lowest NY: 14% |
26.7%Highest NY: 14% |
15.2% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
89.5%Highest NY: 54.3% |
55.1% NY: 54.3% |
58.8% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1967Highest 8 yrs newer than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1941 18 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 37% below NY |
23 min 29% below NY |
14 minLowest 56% below NY |
24 minHighest 28% below NY |
| Work from home | 10.5%±3.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
4.5%±2.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
8.4%±2.6 NY: 14.9% |
9%±2.3 NY: 14.9% |
| Amsterdam and Lockport 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 | #241 of 484 in NY | #337 of 484 in NY | #289 of 484 in NY |
| School district | AMSTERDAM CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | BEMUS POINT CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | LOCKPORT CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | None in town | MAPLE GROVE JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | LOCKPORT HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.6Lowest |
12.2Highest |
11.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.