What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

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.

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

Measure	Amsterdam	Lockport
People
Population	18,166Lowest	20,610Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.2%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-1.4%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	39.5±1.2Highest about the NY average	36.8±2Lowest 8% below NY
	Amsterdam and Lockport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23%±2.3Highest NY: 20.5%	21.5%±2.4Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Amsterdam and Lockport 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%	16.3%±1.9Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Amsterdam and Lockport 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%	24.6%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±1Lowest NY: 7%	5.6%±1.5Highest NY: 7%
	Lockport 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±$8kLowest 35% below NY	$62,410±$7kHighest 27% below NY
	Lockport 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±$11kLowest 67% below NY	$139,900±$11kHighest 67% below NY
	Lockport 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	$945±$43Lowest 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	$4,022Lowest 39% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.4%±6.8Highest NY: 52.1%	40.3%±7.1Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Amsterdam and Lockport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	20.2%Highest NY: 14%	15.2%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	53%Lowest NY: 54.3%	58.8%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY	1941Highest 18 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 37% below NY	24 minHighest 28% below NY
Work from home	10.5%±3.2Highest NY: 14.9%	9%±2.3Lowest 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	#289 of 484 in NY
School district	AMSTERDAM CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT	LOCKPORT CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	None in town	LOCKPORT HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.7
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.