What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lindley has the most affordable homes ($157k median).

Amherst has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).

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	Lindley	Amherst
People
Population	1,622Lowest	130,546Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-7.8%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+5.9%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	46.3±4.4Highest 16% above NY	39.1±0.8Lowest about the NY average
Kids under 18	23.4%±2.2Highest NY: 20.5%	19.2%±1Lowest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	21.2%±0.8Lowest NY: 17.9%	21.5%±0.9Highest NY: 17.9%
	Amherst and Lindley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	18.3%Lowest NY: 40.2%	57.3%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±2Lowest NY: 7%	13.3%±0.8Highest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$86,518±$9kLowest about the NY average	$93,483±$2kHighest 9% above NY
	Amherst and Lindley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$156,500±$15kLowest 63% below NY	$311,600±$7kHighest 26% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,571±$965Highest 3% below NY	$1,393±$45Lowest 14% below NY
	Lindley and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,885Lowest 41% below NY	$5,935Highest 10% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.2%±46.4Lowest NY: 52.1%	53.1%±4.3Highest NY: 52.1%
	Amherst and Lindley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.8%Lowest NY: 14%	10.1%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.5%Highest NY: 54.3%	69.9%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 16 yrs newer than NY	1971Lowest 12 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 11% below NY	20 minLowest 39% below NY
Work from home	10.5%±9.9Lowest NY: 14.9%	15.9%±1.4Highest NY: 14.9%
	Amherst and Lindley 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	—	#72 of 484 in NY
School district	—	AMHERST CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · SWEET HOME CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	—	WILLIAMSVILLE NORTH HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.2
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.