Compare towns
Amsterdam vs Olean vs Starksboro
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).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Starksboro has the most expensive homes ($288k 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 | Olean | Starksboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,166Highest |
13,738 |
1,939Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.5±1.2Highest about the U.S. average |
39±2.6 about the U.S. average |
38.2±4.8Lowest about the U.S. 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 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
26.4%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Starksboro and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.9Lowest 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. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$82,188±$15kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $137,900±$11k 59% below U.S. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$287,700±$42kHighest 14% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,006±$45 29% below U.S. |
$794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$1,306±$91Highest 8% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,369 40% above U.S. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,536Highest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.4%±6.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
28.6%±26.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 22% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 |
| High school in town | None in town | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | None in town |
| 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.