Compare towns
Batavia vs Olean vs Amsterdam 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
Batavia has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.9%).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Amsterdam has the most people working from home (10.5%).
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 | Batavia | Olean | Amsterdam | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,097 |
13,738Lowest |
18,166 |
26,285Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-3.6%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-2.2% NY: +4.2% |
-3% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 42.9±2.1Highest 8% above NY |
39±2.6Lowest about the NY average |
39.5±1.2 about the NY average |
41.1±1.1 3% above NY |
| Batavia and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±2Lowest NY: 20.5% |
23.5%±2.9Highest NY: 20.5% |
23%±2.3 NY: 20.5% |
19%±1.7 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+ | 20.8%±2.1 NY: 17.9% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±2.1 NY: 17.9% |
21.6%±1.9Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Auburn and Batavia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.5% NY: 40.2% |
29.9%Highest NY: 40.2% |
22.5% NY: 40.2% |
21%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1 NY: 7% |
3.6%±1.1 NY: 7% |
4%±1Highest NY: 7% |
2.7%±0.7Lowest NY: 7% |
| 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 | $59,446±$6kHighest 31% below NY |
$51,261±$7k 40% below NY |
$56,178±$8k 35% below NY |
$51,052±$5kLowest 41% below NY |
| Batavia and Amsterdam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $148,900±$7k 65% below NY |
$86,100±$6kLowest 80% below NY |
$137,900±$11k 67% below NY |
$152,800±$9kHighest 64% below NY |
| Auburn and Batavia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $925±$35 43% below NY |
$794±$52Lowest 51% below NY |
$1,006±$45Highest 38% below NY |
$897±$50 45% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,326 49% below NY |
$3,130Lowest 52% below NY |
$4,369Highest 34% below NY |
$3,998 39% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.9%±7.3 NY: 52.1% |
52%±9.1 NY: 52.1% |
45.4%±6.8Lowest 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 | 14.2%Lowest NY: 14% |
26.7%Highest NY: 14% |
20.2% NY: 14% |
19.5% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% NY: 54.3% |
55.1%Highest NY: 54.3% |
53% NY: 54.3% |
48.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1944 15 yrs older than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1947Highest 12 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minHighest 35% below NY |
14 minLowest 56% below NY |
21 min 37% below NY |
20 min 40% below NY |
| Work from home | 5%±1.7Lowest NY: 14.9% |
8.4%±2.6 NY: 14.9% |
10.5%±3.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
5.7%±1.8 NY: 14.9% |
| Amsterdam and Olean 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 | #254 of 484 in NY | #337 of 484 in NY | #474 of 484 in NY | #374 of 484 in NY |
| School district | BATAVIA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | AMSTERDAM CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | AUBURN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | BATAVIA HIGH SCHOOL | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | AUBURN HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
12.2 |
— | 13.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 18 photos → | 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.