Compare towns
Olean vs Ilion vs Sangerfield 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 shortest commute (14 min average).
Ilion has the most homeowners (66.2%).
Sangerfield has the highest household income ($92k).
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.
| Measure | Olean | Ilion | Sangerfield | Amsterdam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 13,738 |
7,593 |
2,431Lowest |
18,166Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6% NY: +4.2% |
-5.1% NY: +4.2% |
-9.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-2.2%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 39±2.6Lowest about the NY average |
44.9±3.4 13% above NY |
47.2±4.9Highest 19% above NY |
39.5±1.2 about the NY average |
| Sangerfield and Ilion 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% |
20.8%±4.9 NY: 20.5% |
19.2%±3.5Lowest 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% |
22.4%±4Highest NY: 17.9% |
22.2%±2.7 NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±2.1 NY: 17.9% |
| Ilion and Sangerfield 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% |
22.8% NY: 40.2% |
25.9% NY: 40.2% |
22.5%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 NY: 7% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest NY: 7% |
2.3%±1 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 |
$62,843±$16k 27% below NY |
$91,563±$14kHighest 7% above NY |
$56,178±$8k 35% below NY |
| Sangerfield and Ilion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $86,100±$6kLowest 80% below NY |
$108,700±$16k 74% below NY |
$169,500±$11kHighest 60% below NY |
$137,900±$11k 67% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$52 51% below NY |
$694±$228Lowest 57% below NY |
$797±$81 51% below NY |
$1,006±$45Highest 38% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,130 52% below NY |
$2,958Lowest 55% below NY |
$3,075 53% below NY |
$4,369Highest 34% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52%±9.1Highest NY: 52.1% |
45.9%±15 NY: 52.1% |
22.9%±10Lowest NY: 52.1% |
45.4%±6.8 NY: 52.1% |
| Olean and Ilion 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% |
14.5% NY: 14% |
4.2%Lowest NY: 14% |
20.2% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% NY: 54.3% |
66.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
65.2% NY: 54.3% |
53%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938 21 yrs older than NY |
1938 21 yrs older than NY |
1938 21 yrs older than NY |
1938 21 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 56% below NY |
20 min 39% below NY |
24 minHighest 26% below NY |
21 min 37% below NY |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.6 NY: 14.9% |
7.8%±4.3Lowest NY: 14.9% |
14.5%±3.3Highest NY: 14.9% |
10.5%±3.2 NY: 14.9% |
| Sangerfield and Amsterdam 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 | — | — | #474 of 484 in NY |
| School district | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | WATERVILLE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | AMSTERDAM CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — | WATERVILLE JR/SR HIGH SCHOOL | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
— | 10.6Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.