Compare towns
Olean vs Eden vs Amsterdam vs Oswego
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Eden has the most expensive homes ($263k median).
Amsterdam has the most people working from home (10.5%).
Oswego has the youngest population (median age 35.7).
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 | Eden | Amsterdam | Oswego |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 13,738 |
7,546Lowest |
18,166Highest |
17,033 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6% NY: +4.2% |
-1.5%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-2.2% NY: +4.2% |
-6.7%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 39±2.6 about the NY average |
42.6±5.3Highest 7% above NY |
39.5±1.2 about the NY average |
35.7±1.6Lowest 10% below NY |
| Eden and Amsterdam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±2.9Highest NY: 20.5% |
22.4%±3.8 NY: 20.5% |
23%±2.3 NY: 20.5% |
21.9%±2.6Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Olean and Amsterdam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±2.5 NY: 17.9% |
19.7%±3.2Highest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±2.1 NY: 17.9% |
18.3%±2.1Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Eden and Amsterdam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.9% NY: 40.2% |
34.8%Highest NY: 40.2% |
22.5%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
26.1% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest NY: 7% |
4.9%±1.7 NY: 7% |
4%±1 NY: 7% |
10.1%±2Highest NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $51,261±$7kLowest 40% below NY |
$97,262±$11kHighest 13% above NY |
$56,178±$8k 35% below NY |
$53,172±$4k 38% below NY |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $86,100±$6kLowest 80% below NY |
$263,100±$28kHighest 38% below NY |
$137,900±$11k 67% below NY |
$120,600±$7k 72% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$52Lowest 51% below NY |
$1,035±$427 36% below NY |
$1,006±$45 38% below NY |
$1,109±$72Highest 32% below NY |
| Oswego and Eden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,130Lowest 52% below NY |
$5,680Highest 14% below NY |
$4,369 34% below NY |
$3,362 49% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52%±9.1 NY: 52.1% |
53.4%±26.1 NY: 52.1% |
45.4%±6.8Lowest NY: 52.1% |
60.4%±7.4Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Oswego and Eden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 26.7%Highest NY: 14% |
9.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
20.2% NY: 14% |
20.6% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% NY: 54.3% |
89.7%Highest NY: 54.3% |
53% NY: 54.3% |
50.2%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1960Highest 1 yr newer than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 56% below NY |
25 minHighest 23% below NY |
21 min 37% below NY |
19 min 43% below NY |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.6 NY: 14.9% |
8.1%±3.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
10.5%±3.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
8.6%±2.9 NY: 14.9% |
| Amsterdam and Oswego 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 | #337 of 484 in NY | #147 of 484 in NY | #474 of 484 in NY | #285 of 484 in NY |
| School district | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | EDEN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | AMSTERDAM CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | OSWEGO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | EDEN MIDDLE & HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | OSWEGO HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
10.8Lowest |
— | 12.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 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.