Compare towns
Amsterdam vs Olean vs Union vs Auburn
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 most affordable homes ($86k median).
Union has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).
Auburn has the most renters (51.4% rent).
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 | Union | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,166 |
13,738Lowest |
55,078Highest |
26,285 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2% NY: +4.2% |
-3.6%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-0.4%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-3% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 39.5±1.2 about the NY average |
39±2.6Lowest about the NY average |
41.4±1.2Highest 4% above NY |
41.1±1.1 3% above NY |
| Union and Auburn 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% |
19%±1.3Lowest NY: 20.5% |
19%±1.7Lowest 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%±2.1 NY: 17.9% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest NY: 17.9% |
21.4%±1.3 NY: 17.9% |
21.6%±1.9Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Auburn and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.5% NY: 40.2% |
29.9% NY: 40.2% |
33%Highest NY: 40.2% |
21%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1 NY: 7% |
3.6%±1.1 NY: 7% |
6.1%±0.9Highest NY: 7% |
2.7%±0.7Lowest NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $56,178±$8k 35% below NY |
$51,261±$7k 40% below NY |
$61,713±$2kHighest 28% below NY |
$51,052±$5kLowest 41% below NY |
| Union and Amsterdam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $137,900±$11k 67% below NY |
$86,100±$6kLowest 80% below NY |
$149,900±$5k 65% below NY |
$152,800±$9kHighest 64% below NY |
| Auburn and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,006±$45Highest 38% below NY |
$794±$52Lowest 51% below NY |
$936±$37 42% below NY |
$897±$50 45% below NY |
| Amsterdam and Union 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 |
$4,200 36% below NY |
$3,998 39% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.4%±6.8Lowest NY: 52.1% |
52%±9.1 NY: 52.1% |
49.2%±5.6 NY: 52.1% |
55%±7.8Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Auburn and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 20.2% NY: 14% |
26.7%Highest NY: 14% |
16.2%Lowest NY: 14% |
19.5% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53% NY: 54.3% |
55.1% NY: 54.3% |
58.9%Highest NY: 54.3% |
48.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1955Highest 4 yrs older than NY |
1947 12 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minHighest 37% below NY |
14 minLowest 56% below NY |
18 min 46% below NY |
20 min 40% below NY |
| Work from home | 10.5%±3.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
8.4%±2.6 NY: 14.9% |
9%±1.5 NY: 14.9% |
5.7%±1.8Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Amsterdam and Union 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 | #199 of 484 in NY | #374 of 484 in NY |
| School district | AMSTERDAM CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | UNION-ENDICOTT CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · JOHNSON CITY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | AUBURN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | None in town | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | UNION-ENDICOTT HIGH SCHOOL | AUBURN HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2 |
11.4Lowest |
13.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.