Compare towns
Amsterdam vs Olean vs Waterville
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 people working from home (10.5%).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Waterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
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 | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,166Highest |
13,738 |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.5±1.2 about the U.S. average |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
49.1±8.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±8.2Lowest 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%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest 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% |
32.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Waterville and Amsterdam 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. |
$71,250±$27kHighest 12% below U.S. |
| Waterville 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 59% below U.S. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$236,300±$15kHighest 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,006±$45 29% below U.S. |
$794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$1,110±$93Highest 21% below U.S. |
| Waterville and Amsterdam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,369Highest 40% above U.S. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,957 27% 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% |
44.6%±27.2Lowest 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% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 22% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±3.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Amsterdam and Waterville 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 | — |
| School district | AMSTERDAM CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| 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.