What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lockport has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.4%).

Amsterdam has the most people working from home (10.5%).

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	Lockport	Amsterdam
People
Population	20,610Highest	18,166Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.4%Highest NY: +4.2%	-2.2%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	36.8±2Lowest 8% below NY	39.5±1.2Highest about the NY average
	Amsterdam and Lockport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.5%±2.4Lowest NY: 20.5%	23%±2.3Highest NY: 20.5%
	Amsterdam and Lockport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.3%±1.9Lowest NY: 17.9%	19.5%±2.1Highest NY: 17.9%
	Amsterdam and Lockport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	24.6%Highest NY: 40.2%	22.5%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±1.5Highest NY: 7%	4%±1Lowest NY: 7%
	Lockport and Amsterdam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$62,410±$7kHighest 27% below NY	$56,178±$8kLowest 35% below NY
	Lockport and Amsterdam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$139,900±$11kHighest 67% below NY	$137,900±$11kLowest 67% below NY
	Lockport and Amsterdam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$945±$43Lowest 42% below NY	$1,006±$45Highest 38% below NY
	Amsterdam and Lockport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,022Lowest 39% below NY	$4,369Highest 34% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40.3%±7.1Lowest NY: 52.1%	45.4%±6.8Highest NY: 52.1%
	Amsterdam and Lockport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	15.2%Lowest NY: 14%	20.2%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	58.8%Highest NY: 54.3%	53%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1941Highest 18 yrs older than NY	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 28% below NY	21 minLowest 37% below NY
Work from home	9%±2.3Lowest NY: 14.9%	10.5%±3.2Highest NY: 14.9%
	Amsterdam and Lockport 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	#289 of 484 in NY	#474 of 484 in NY
School district	LOCKPORT CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT	AMSTERDAM CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	LOCKPORT HIGH SCHOOL	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	11.7	—
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.