Compare towns
Amsterdam vs Olean vs Putney vs Sutton
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.2%).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Putney has the most people working from home (16.9%).
Sutton has the oldest population (median age 46.6).
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 | Putney | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,166Highest |
13,738 |
2,622 |
790Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-11.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.5±1.2 about the U.S. average |
39±2.6 about the U.S. average |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
46.6±5.7Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±3.4 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% |
19.1%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sutton and Amsterdam 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $56,178±$8k 30% below U.S. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$79,706±$18kHighest about the U.S. average |
$71,250±$18k 12% below U.S. |
| Putney and Sutton 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. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$300,000±$44kHighest 10% below U.S. |
$231,100±$41k 31% below U.S. |
| Putney and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,006±$45Highest 29% below U.S. |
$794±$52 44% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,369 40% above U.S. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$5,313Highest 70% above U.S. |
$3,975 27% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.4%±6.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±31.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney 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% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
16% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
85%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 22% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
18 min 32% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Putney and Sutton 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | AMSTERDAM CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| High school in town | None in town | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.