Compare towns
Amsterdam vs Mount Holly 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 most renters (47% rent).
Mount Holly has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12%).
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 | Mount Holly | Olean |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,166Highest |
1,415Lowest |
13,738 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.5±1.2 about the U.S. average |
53.5±8.2Highest 38% above U.S. |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 23%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±5Lowest 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% |
28%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest 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±$8k 30% below U.S. |
$78,015±$19kHighest 3% below U.S. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Mount Holly 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±$11k 59% below U.S. |
$296,900±$40kHighest 11% below U.S. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,006±$45 29% below U.S. |
$1,534±$1kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S. |
| Mount Holly and Amsterdam 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. |
$3,926 26% 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% |
65.9%±65.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mount Holly 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% |
11.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 22% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±6.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mount Holly 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 | Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 | 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.