Compare towns

Amsterdam vs Olean vs Warren vs Auburn

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Warren has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16%).
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.

MeasureAmsterdamOleanWarrenAuburn
People
Population
18,166
13,738
1,585Lowest
26,285Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+16%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39.5±1.2
about the U.S. average
39±2.6Lowest
about the U.S. average
53.1±4.2Highest
37% above U.S.
41.1±1.1
6% above U.S.
Kids under 18
23%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
23.5%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
9.3%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19%±1.7
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%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
30.1%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.6%±1.9
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
22.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
29.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
60%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
21%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4%±1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.6%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
3.6%±4
U.S.: 6.4%
2.7%±0.7Lowest
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±$7k
37% below U.S.
$86,905±$16kHighest
8% above U.S.
$51,052±$5kLowest
37% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$137,900±$11k
59% below U.S.
$86,100±$6kLowest
74% below U.S.
$569,300±$123kHighest
71% above U.S.
$152,800±$9k
54% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,006±$45
29% below U.S.
$794±$52Lowest
44% below U.S.
$1,750±$394Highest
24% above U.S.
$897±$50
37% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,369
40% above U.S.
$3,130Lowest
about the U.S. average
$7,284Highest
134% above U.S.
$3,998
28% 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%
32.3%±26.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
55%±7.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
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%
U.S.: 12.5%
26.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
15.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
19.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
53%
U.S.: 65.2%
55.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
48.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1947
33 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 minHighest
22% below U.S.
14 minLowest
45% below U.S.
19 min
30% below U.S.
20 min
25% below U.S.
Work from home
10.5%±3.2
U.S.: 15.1%
8.4%±2.6
U.S.: 15.1%
36.2%±5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
5.7%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #474 of 484 in NY #337 of 484 in NY — #374 of 484 in NY
School district AMSTERDAM CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT Harwood Unified Union School District #60 AUBURN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town None in town OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL None in town AUBURN HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.2Lowest
—
13.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 6 photos → 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.