What stands out worked out from the figures below

Jamestown has the most affordable homes ($88k median).

Amsterdam has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.2%).

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	Jamestown	Amsterdam
People
Population	28,188Highest	18,166Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-7.8%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-2.2%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	39.8±1.8Highest about the NY average	39.5±1.2Lowest about the NY average
	Jamestown and Amsterdam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.6%±1.9Lowest NY: 20.5%	23%±2.3Highest NY: 20.5%
	Amsterdam and Jamestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.8%±1.6Lowest NY: 17.9%	19.5%±2.1Highest NY: 17.9%
	Amsterdam and Jamestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.3%Lowest NY: 40.2%	22.5%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±1.2Highest NY: 7%	4%±1Lowest NY: 7%
	Jamestown and Amsterdam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$43,523±$4kLowest 49% below NY	$56,178±$8kHighest 35% below NY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$87,700±$4kLowest 79% below NY	$137,900±$11kHighest 67% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$759±$39Lowest 53% below NY	$1,006±$45Highest 38% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,453Lowest 63% below NY	$4,369Highest 34% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.8%±5.4Highest NY: 52.1%	45.4%±6.8Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Jamestown and Amsterdam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	25.3%Highest NY: 14%	20.2%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	49.3%Lowest NY: 54.3%	53%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938 21 yrs older than NY	1938 21 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	15 minLowest 53% below NY	21 minHighest 37% below NY
Work from home	9.1%±2.3Lowest NY: 14.9%	10.5%±3.2Highest NY: 14.9%
	Amsterdam and Jamestown 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	#305 of 484 in NY	#474 of 484 in NY
School district	JAMESTOWN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT	AMSTERDAM CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	JAMESTOWN HIGH SCHOOL	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.