Compare towns
Cornwall vs Olean vs Amsterdam vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cornwall has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Olean has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Cornwall | Olean | Amsterdam | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,208Lowest |
1,664 |
18,166Highest |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.4±4.6 30% above U.S. |
53.8±5.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
39.5±1.2Lowest about the U.S. average |
51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
| Olean and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 25.7%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cornwall and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Amsterdam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $114,583±$32kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$74,583±$20k 8% below U.S. |
$56,178±$8kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
| Cornwall and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $458,000±$49kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$158,600±$17k 52% below U.S. |
$137,900±$11kLowest 59% below U.S. |
$431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
| Cornwall and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$206Highest 20% below U.S. |
$666±$334Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$1,006±$45 29% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789Highest 20% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,726 116% above U.S. |
$4,027Lowest 29% above U.S. |
$4,369 40% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±65.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±25.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.4%±6.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Cornwall and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 0.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
20.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
53%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 11% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.4%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Cornwall and Strafford 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 | — | #337 of 484 in NY | #474 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | AMSTERDAM CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.