Compare towns

Olean vs Evans vs Amsterdam

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).
Evans has the most homeowners (86.2%).
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.

MeasureOleanEvansAmsterdam
People
Population
13,738Lowest
15,183
18,166Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.6%
NY: +4.2%
-6.4%Lowest
NY: +4.2%
-2.2%Highest
NY: +4.2%
Median age
39±2.6Lowest
about the NY average
49.5±2.8Highest
24% above NY
39.5±1.2
about the NY average
Kids under 18
23.5%±2.9Highest
NY: 20.5%
15.7%±2.2Lowest
NY: 20.5%
23%±2.3
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%±2.5Lowest
NY: 17.9%
24.1%±2.5Highest
NY: 17.9%
19.5%±2.1
NY: 17.9%
Evans 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%Highest
NY: 40.2%
22.3%Lowest
NY: 40.2%
22.5%
NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.6%±1.1Lowest
NY: 7%
3.6%±0.9Lowest
NY: 7%
4%±1Highest
NY: 7%
Amsterdam and Olean 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
40% below NY
$72,467±$8kHighest
16% below NY
$56,178±$8k
35% below NY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$86,100±$6kLowest
80% below NY
$176,500±$10kHighest
58% below NY
$137,900±$11k
67% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$794±$52Lowest
51% below NY
$919±$104
43% below NY
$1,006±$45Highest
38% below NY
Amsterdam and Evans 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
$4,590Highest
30% below NY
$4,369
34% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52%±9.1Highest
NY: 52.1%
25.7%±10.7Lowest
NY: 52.1%
45.4%±6.8
NY: 52.1%
Olean and Amsterdam 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%
11.9%Lowest
NY: 14%
20.2%
NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
55.1%
NY: 54.3%
86.2%Highest
NY: 54.3%
53%Lowest
NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
21 yrs older than NY
1957Highest
2 yrs older than NY
1938Lowest
21 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
14 minLowest
56% below NY
29 minHighest
11% below NY
21 min
37% below NY
Work from home
8.4%±2.6Lowest
NY: 14.9%
8.8%±2.4
NY: 14.9%
10.5%±3.2Highest
NY: 14.9%
Amsterdam and Evans 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 #180 of 484 in NY #474 of 484 in NY
School district OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT EVANS-BRANT CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT (LAKE SHORE) AMSTERDAM CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL LAKE SHORE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.2Highest
10.6Lowest
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On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.