Compare towns
Amsterdam vs Ellington 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%).
Ellington has the most homeowners (88.4%).
Olean has the shortest commute (14 min average).
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 | Ellington | Olean |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,166Highest |
1,554Lowest |
13,738 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-8.9%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-3.6% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 39.5±1.2 about the NY average |
42.1±4.8Highest 6% above NY |
39±2.6Lowest about the NY average |
| Ellington and Amsterdam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23%±2.3Lowest NY: 20.5% |
24.1%±4.2Highest NY: 20.5% |
23.5%±2.9 NY: 20.5% |
| Ellington and Olean 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% |
19.7%±2.7Highest NY: 17.9% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Ellington 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% |
12.1%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
29.9%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1Highest NY: 7% |
3.2%±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 |
$65,000±$15kHighest 24% below NY |
$51,261±$7kLowest 40% below NY |
| Ellington 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±$11kHighest 67% below NY |
$114,300±$13k 73% below NY |
$86,100±$6kLowest 80% below NY |
| Amsterdam and Ellington 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 |
$681±$342Lowest 58% below NY |
$794±$52 51% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,369Highest 34% below NY |
$2,472Lowest 62% below NY |
$3,130 52% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.4%±6.8Lowest NY: 52.1% |
100%±100Highest NY: 52.1% |
52%±9.1 NY: 52.1% |
| Ellington and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 20.2% NY: 14% |
18%Lowest NY: 14% |
26.7%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
88.4%Highest NY: 54.3% |
55.1% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 37% below NY |
25 minHighest 24% below NY |
14 minLowest 56% below NY |
| Work from home | 10.5%±3.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
6.6%±5.5Lowest 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 | — | #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.