Compare towns
Chenango vs Olean vs Amsterdam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chenango has the most people working from home (13.8%).
Olean has the oldest population (median age 53.8).
Amsterdam has the most renters (47% 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 | Chenango | Olean | Amsterdam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,787 |
1,664Lowest |
18,166Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% NY: +4.2% |
-4.2%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-2.2%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 41±2.8 3% above NY |
53.8±5.5Highest 35% above NY |
39.5±1.2Lowest about the NY average |
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±3 NY: 20.5% |
15.6%±4.5Lowest NY: 20.5% |
23%±2.3Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Amsterdam and Chenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.6 NY: 17.9% |
25.2%±5.1Highest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±2.1Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Olean and Chenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.2%Highest NY: 40.2% |
23.3% NY: 40.2% |
22.5%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2Highest NY: 7% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest NY: 7% |
4%±1 NY: 7% |
| Chenango and Amsterdam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,646±$9kHighest about the NY average |
$74,583±$20k 13% below NY |
$56,178±$8kLowest 35% below NY |
| Chenango and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $172,000±$9kHighest 59% below NY |
$158,600±$17k 63% below NY |
$137,900±$11kLowest 67% below NY |
| Chenango and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,038±$97Highest 36% below NY |
$666±$334Lowest 59% below NY |
$1,006±$45 38% below NY |
| Chenango and Amsterdam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,700Lowest 44% below NY |
$4,027 39% below NY |
$4,369Highest 34% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±8.7Lowest NY: 52.1% |
57.1%±25.5Highest NY: 52.1% |
45.4%±6.8 NY: 52.1% |
| Olean and Amsterdam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.1%Lowest NY: 14% |
16.3% NY: 14% |
20.2%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.3%Highest NY: 54.3% |
77.9% NY: 54.3% |
53%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Highest 5 yrs newer than NY |
1962 3 yrs newer than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 27% below NY |
19 minLowest 43% below NY |
21 min 37% below NY |
| Work from home | 13.8%±3.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
5.8%±4.7Lowest NY: 14.9% |
10.5%±3.2 NY: 14.9% |
| Chenango 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 | #233 of 484 in NY | #337 of 484 in NY | #474 of 484 in NY |
| School district | CHENANGO FORKS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | AMSTERDAM CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | CHENANGO FORKS HIGH SCHOOL | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.