What stands out worked out from the figures below

Amsterdam has the most people working from home (10.5%).

Lackawanna has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Amsterdam	Lackawanna
People
Population	18,166Lowest	19,753Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.2%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+10%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	39.5±1.2Highest about the NY average	37.9±3Lowest 5% below NY
	Amsterdam and Lackawanna 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%	24.6%±3Highest NY: 20.5%
	Lackawanna and Amsterdam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.5%±2.1Highest NY: 17.9%	16.8%±2Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Amsterdam and Lackawanna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	22.5%Highest NY: 40.2%	20%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±1Lowest NY: 7%	5.2%±1.5Highest NY: 7%
	Lackawanna 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±$8kHighest 35% below NY	$52,110±$5kLowest 39% below NY
	Amsterdam and Lackawanna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$137,900±$11kLowest 67% below NY	$140,700±$8kHighest 67% below NY
	Lackawanna and Amsterdam 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	$872±$37Lowest 46% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,369Highest 34% below NY	$3,745Lowest 43% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.4%±6.8Lowest NY: 52.1%	51.8%±8.5Highest NY: 52.1%
	Lackawanna and Amsterdam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	20.2%Lowest NY: 14%	23.2%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	53%Lowest NY: 54.3%	56.2%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY	1954Highest 5 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minHighest 37% below NY	20 minLowest 39% below NY
Work from home	10.5%±3.2Highest NY: 14.9%	7.8%±2.3Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Amsterdam and Lackawanna 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	#396 of 484 in NY
School district	AMSTERDAM CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT	LACKAWANNA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	None in town	LACKAWANNA HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	10.5
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	6 photos →	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.