Compare towns
Amsterdam vs Johnson City 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 expensive homes ($138k median).
Johnson City has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
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 | Johnson City | Olean |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,166Highest |
14,940 |
13,738Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2% NY: +4.2% |
+1.1%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-3.6%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 39.5±1.2 about the NY average |
40.7±3.4Highest about the NY average |
39±2.6Lowest about the NY average |
| Johnson City 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% |
18.1%±2.6Lowest 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% |
22.4%±2.6Highest NY: 17.9% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Johnson City 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 NY: 40.2% |
29.6% NY: 40.2% |
29.9%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1 NY: 7% |
9%±2.2Highest NY: 7% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $56,178±$8k 35% below NY |
$56,283±$4kHighest 35% below NY |
$51,261±$7kLowest 40% below NY |
| Johnson City 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 |
$117,100±$4k 72% below NY |
$86,100±$6kLowest 80% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,006±$45 38% below NY |
$1,031±$66Highest 36% below NY |
$794±$52Lowest 51% below NY |
| Johnson City and Amsterdam 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 |
$3,982 40% below NY |
$3,130Lowest 52% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.4%±6.8Lowest NY: 52.1% |
57.8%±10.9Highest NY: 52.1% |
52%±9.1 NY: 52.1% |
| Johnson City 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% |
19.6%Lowest NY: 14% |
26.7%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53% NY: 54.3% |
52.3%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
55.1%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1949Highest 10 yrs older than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minHighest 37% below NY |
17 min 49% below NY |
14 minLowest 56% below NY |
| Work from home | 10.5%±3.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
9.7%±3.4 NY: 14.9% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Amsterdam and Johnson City 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.