Compare towns
Amsterdam vs Montgomery vs Olean
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Amsterdam has the highest household income ($56k).
Montgomery has the most expensive homes ($323k median).
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 | Montgomery | Olean |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,166Highest |
1,047Lowest |
13,738 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.5±1.2 about the U.S. average |
51.5±11.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Montgomery 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 U.S.: 22% |
15.5%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.9%±8.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$8kHighest 30% below U.S. |
$53,289±$24k 34% below U.S. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Amsterdam and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $137,900±$11k 59% below U.S. |
$323,200±$45kHighest about the U.S. average |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,006±$45Highest 29% below U.S. |
$868±$209 39% below U.S. |
$794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S. |
| Amsterdam and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,369Highest 40% above U.S. |
$4,326 39% above U.S. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.4%±6.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
76.6%±68Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Montgomery and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 20.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 22% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Montgomery and Amsterdam 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | None 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 |
U.S. 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.