What stands out worked out from the figures below

Amsterdam has the most kids (23% under 18).

Royalton has the most expensive homes ($263k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Amsterdam	Royalton
People
Population	18,166Highest	2,752Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	-0.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.5±1.2Lowest about the U.S. average	43.9±10.1Highest 13% above U.S.
	Royalton and Amsterdam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22%	14.4%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	19.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	22.1%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Royalton and Amsterdam 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%	42.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Royalton 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.	$103,938±$24kHighest 29% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$137,900±$11kLowest 59% below U.S.	$263,200±$73kHighest 21% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,006±$45Lowest 29% below U.S.	$1,040±$391Highest 26% below U.S.
	Royalton and Amsterdam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,369Lowest 40% above U.S.	$4,675Highest 50% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.4%±6.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	36.7%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Amsterdam and Royalton 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%	13%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	53%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	63.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.	1965Highest 15 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minHighest 22% below U.S.	20 minLowest 23% below U.S.
Work from home	10.5%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	17.8%±7.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Royalton 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	#48 of 70 in VT
School district	AMSTERDAM CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT	White River Unified School District #79
High school in town	None in town	White River Valley High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	8.7
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.