Compare towns
Amsterdam vs Reading vs Lockport
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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Lockport has the youngest population (median age 36.8).
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 | Reading | Lockport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,166 |
699Lowest |
20,610Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.5±1.2 about the U.S. average |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
36.8±2Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Amsterdam and Lockport 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lockport 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±$8kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above U.S. |
$62,410±$7k 23% below U.S. |
| Reading and Lockport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $137,900±$11kLowest 59% below U.S. |
$377,200±$72kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$139,900±$11k 58% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,006±$45 29% below U.S. |
$1,100±$331Highest 22% below U.S. |
$945±$43Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Reading and Amsterdam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,369 40% above U.S. |
$5,754Highest 84% above U.S. |
$4,022Lowest 29% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.4%±6.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Amsterdam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 20.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Highest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1941 39 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Amsterdam 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 | — | #289 of 484 in NY |
| School district | AMSTERDAM CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | LOCKPORT CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | LOCKPORT HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.