Compare towns
Olean vs Jamaica vs Olean 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).
Jamaica has the most people working from home (23.2%).
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.
| Measure | Olean | Jamaica | Olean | Amsterdam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 13,738 |
882Lowest |
1,664 |
18,166Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
55.1±5.5Highest 42% above U.S. |
53.8±5.5 38% above U.S. |
39.5±1.2 about the U.S. average |
| Jamaica and Olean 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% |
13.7%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±4.5 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% |
30%±8.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jamaica and Olean 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% |
48.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±3.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Amsterdam and Jamaica 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. |
$79,219±$19kHighest about the U.S. average |
$74,583±$20k 8% below U.S. |
$56,178±$8k 30% below U.S. |
| Jamaica and Olean 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. |
$347,800±$50kHighest 5% above U.S. |
$158,600±$17k 52% below U.S. |
$137,900±$11k 59% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$52 44% below U.S. |
$870±$464 38% below U.S. |
$666±$334Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$1,006±$45Highest 29% below U.S. |
| Amsterdam and Jamaica 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 |
$4,773Highest 53% above U.S. |
$4,027 29% above U.S. |
$4,369 40% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
7.1%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±25.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.4%±6.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Olean and Olean 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% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
20.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
53%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 15% below U.S. |
19 min 30% below U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.2%±12.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jamaica 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 | — | #337 of 484 in NY | #474 of 484 in NY |
| School district | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | — | AMSTERDAM CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | 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 | 6 photos → |
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.