Compare towns
Olean vs Calais vs Berlin vs Amsterdam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Berlin has the oldest population (median age 50.6).
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 | Olean | Calais | Berlin | Amsterdam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 13,738 |
1,713Lowest |
2,880 |
18,166Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
42±8.6 8% above U.S. |
50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
39.5±1.2 about the U.S. average |
| Berlin and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Olean and Amsterdam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Amsterdam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$100,625±$27kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$86,691±$21k 7% above U.S. |
$56,178±$8k 30% below U.S. |
| Calais and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$390,300±$36kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$273,600±$31k 18% below U.S. |
$137,900±$11k 59% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$1,408±$392Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
$1,006±$45 29% below U.S. |
| Calais and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
$4,418 42% above U.S. |
$4,369 40% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52%±9.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.4%±6.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Olean and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
20.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
53%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
21 min 20% below U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #337 of 484 in NY | — | #16 of 70 in VT | #474 of 484 in NY |
| School district | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | AMSTERDAM CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
— | — | — |
| 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.