Compare towns
Amsterdam vs Olean vs Wright vs Lockport
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 people working from home (10.5%).
Olean has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Wright has the most expensive homes ($242k median).
Lockport has the youngest population (median age 36.8).
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 | Olean | Wright | Lockport |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,166 |
1,664Lowest |
1,739 |
20,610Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2% NY: +4.2% |
-4.2%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-1.5% NY: +4.2% |
-1.4%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 39.5±1.2 about the NY average |
53.8±5.5Highest 35% above NY |
51.4±4.7 29% above NY |
36.8±2Lowest 8% below NY |
| Olean and Wright 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% |
15.6%±4.5Lowest NY: 20.5% |
16.7%±3.1 NY: 20.5% |
21.5%±2.4 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%±2.1 NY: 17.9% |
25.2%±5.1Highest NY: 17.9% |
21.4%±1.9 NY: 17.9% |
16.3%±1.9Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Olean and Wright 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% |
23.3% NY: 40.2% |
24.4% NY: 40.2% |
24.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1 NY: 7% |
2.5%±1.5 NY: 7% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest 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 |
$74,583±$20k 13% below NY |
$86,250±$13kHighest about the NY average |
$62,410±$7k 27% below NY |
| Wright and Olean 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 |
$158,600±$17k 63% below NY |
$242,000±$36kHighest 43% below NY |
$139,900±$11k 67% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,006±$45Highest 38% below NY |
$666±$334Lowest 59% below NY |
$953±$79 41% below NY |
$945±$43 42% below NY |
| Amsterdam and Wright are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,369 34% below NY |
$4,027 39% below NY |
$5,279Highest 20% below NY |
$4,022Lowest 39% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.4%±6.8 NY: 52.1% |
57.1%±25.5Highest NY: 52.1% |
37.6%±16.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
40.3%±7.1 NY: 52.1% |
| Olean and Amsterdam 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% |
16.3% NY: 14% |
7%Lowest NY: 14% |
15.2% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
77.9% NY: 54.3% |
80.6%Highest NY: 54.3% |
58.8% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1962 3 yrs newer than NY |
1983Highest 24 yrs newer than NY |
1941 18 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 37% below NY |
19 minLowest 43% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
24 min 28% below NY |
| Work from home | 10.5%±3.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
5.8%±4.7Lowest NY: 14.9% |
5.9%±2.8 NY: 14.9% |
9%±2.3 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 | #337 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 | 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.