What stands out worked out from the figures below

Amsterdam has the most expensive homes ($138k 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.

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

Measure	Amsterdam	Olean
People
Population	18,166Highest	13,738Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.2%Highest NY: +4.2%	-3.6%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	39.5±1.2Highest about the NY average	39±2.6Lowest about the NY average
	Amsterdam and Olean 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%	23.5%±2.9Highest NY: 20.5%
	Olean and Amsterdam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.5%±2.1Highest NY: 17.9%	19.1%±2.5Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Amsterdam and Olean 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%	29.9%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±1Highest NY: 7%	3.6%±1.1Lowest NY: 7%
	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 35% below NY	$51,261±$7kLowest 40% below NY
	Amsterdam 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±$11kHighest 67% below NY	$86,100±$6kLowest 80% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,006±$45Highest 38% below NY	$794±$52Lowest 51% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,369Highest 34% below NY	$3,130Lowest 52% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.4%±6.8Lowest NY: 52.1%	52%±9.1Highest 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%Lowest NY: 14%	26.7%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	53%Lowest NY: 54.3%	55.1%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938 21 yrs older than NY	1938 21 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minHighest 37% below NY	14 minLowest 56% below NY
Work from home	10.5%±3.2Highest NY: 14.9%	8.4%±2.6Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Amsterdam and Olean 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	OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school 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

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.