Compare towns
Amsterdam vs Olean vs Oswego
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.2%).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Oswego has the youngest population (median age 35.7).
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 | Oswego |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,166Highest |
13,738Lowest |
17,033 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-3.6% NY: +4.2% |
-6.7%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 39.5±1.2Highest about the NY average |
39±2.6 about the NY average |
35.7±1.6Lowest 10% below NY |
| Amsterdam and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23%±2.3 NY: 20.5% |
23.5%±2.9Highest NY: 20.5% |
21.9%±2.6Lowest 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%±2.5 NY: 17.9% |
18.3%±2.1Lowest 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% |
26.1% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1 NY: 7% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest NY: 7% |
10.1%±2Highest NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $56,178±$8kHighest 35% below NY |
$51,261±$7kLowest 40% below NY |
$53,172±$4k 38% below NY |
| Amsterdam and Oswego 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 |
$120,600±$7k 72% below NY |
| Amsterdam and Oswego are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,006±$45 38% below NY |
$794±$52Lowest 51% below NY |
$1,109±$72Highest 32% below NY |
| Oswego and Amsterdam 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 |
$3,130Lowest 52% below NY |
$3,362 49% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.4%±6.8Lowest NY: 52.1% |
52%±9.1 NY: 52.1% |
60.4%±7.4Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Oswego and Olean 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% |
20.6% NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53% NY: 54.3% |
55.1%Highest NY: 54.3% |
50.2%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938 21 yrs older than NY |
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 |
19 min 43% below NY |
| Work from home | 10.5%±3.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
8.6%±2.9 NY: 14.9% |
| Amsterdam and Oswego 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 | #285 of 484 in NY |
| School district | AMSTERDAM CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | OSWEGO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | None in town | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | OSWEGO HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2Lowest |
12.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.