Compare towns

Olean vs Mendon vs Weston Mills 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).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Weston Mills has the oldest population (median age 54.3).
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.

MeasureOleanMendonWeston MillsAmsterdam
People
Population
13,738
1,113Lowest
1,431
18,166Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39±2.6Lowest
about the U.S. average
53.4±10.5
37% above U.S.
54.3±4.3Highest
40% above U.S.
39.5±1.2
about the U.S. average
Weston Mills and Mendon 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%
14.6%±5.2
U.S.: 22%
12.7%±5.2Lowest
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%
29%±1.3
U.S.: 17.2%
32.4%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.5%±2.1
U.S.: 17.2%
Weston Mills and Mendon 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%
49.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
26.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
22.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.6%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
3.1%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
0.8%±1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4%±1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
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
37% below U.S.
$100,524±$23kHighest
25% above U.S.
$79,712±$18k
about the U.S. average
$56,178±$8k
30% below U.S.
Mendon and Weston Mills 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.
$357,000±$44kHighest
7% above U.S.
$155,300±$23k
53% below U.S.
$137,900±$11k
59% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$794±$52
44% below U.S.
$1,230±$651Highest
13% below U.S.
$775±$177Lowest
45% below U.S.
$1,006±$45
29% below U.S.
Mendon and Amsterdam 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
$5,342Highest
71% above U.S.
$3,393
9% above U.S.
$4,369
40% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52%±9.1
U.S.: 51.1%
88.6%±42.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
63%±28.8
U.S.: 51.1%
45.4%±6.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Mendon and Weston Mills 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%
8.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
7.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
20.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
55.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
92.2%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
78.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
53%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1967
13 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
14 minLowest
45% below U.S.
17 min
36% below U.S.
16 min
38% below U.S.
21 minHighest
22% below U.S.
Work from home
8.4%±2.6
U.S.: 15.1%
22.5%±8.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
7.1%±5.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.5%±3.2
U.S.: 15.1%
Mendon 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 — — AMSTERDAM CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL — — None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.2
— — —
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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.