Compare towns
Ellington vs Amsterdam vs Smyrna
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ellington has the highest household income ($65k).
Amsterdam has the most renters (47% rent).
Smyrna has the most affordable homes ($90k 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.
| Measure | Ellington | Amsterdam | Smyrna |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,554 |
18,166Highest |
1,392Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.9%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-2.2%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-3.4% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 42.1±4.8 6% above NY |
39.5±1.2Lowest about the NY average |
43.4±7.4Highest 9% above NY |
| Smyrna and Ellington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±4.2 NY: 20.5% |
23%±2.3Lowest NY: 20.5% |
26.3%±5.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Smyrna and Ellington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.7Highest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±2.1 NY: 17.9% |
15.8%±5Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Ellington and Amsterdam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 12.1% NY: 40.2% |
22.5%Highest NY: 40.2% |
9.6%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.7 NY: 7% |
4%±1Highest NY: 7% |
1.2%±1.5Lowest NY: 7% |
| Amsterdam and Ellington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $65,000±$15kHighest 24% below NY |
$56,178±$8kLowest 35% below NY |
$59,408±$10k 31% below NY |
| Ellington and Smyrna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $114,300±$13k 73% below NY |
$137,900±$11kHighest 67% below NY |
$89,500±$10kLowest 79% below NY |
| Amsterdam and Ellington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $681±$342Lowest 58% below NY |
$1,006±$45Highest 38% below NY |
$888±$384 45% below NY |
| Amsterdam and Smyrna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,472 62% below NY |
$4,369Highest 34% below NY |
$2,056Lowest 69% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest NY: 52.1% |
45.4%±6.8Lowest NY: 52.1% |
67.7%±84.9 NY: 52.1% |
| Ellington and Smyrna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 18% NY: 14% |
20.2%Highest NY: 14% |
14.3%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.4% NY: 54.3% |
53%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
88.8%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1976 17 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 24% below NY |
21 minLowest 37% below NY |
22 min 33% below NY |
| Work from home | 6.6%±5.5Lowest NY: 14.9% |
10.5%±3.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
9.5%±5.4 NY: 14.9% |
| Amsterdam and Smyrna 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 | — |
| School district | — | AMSTERDAM CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 2 photos → | 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.