Compare towns
Olean vs Oswego vs Ryegate 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).
Oswego has the youngest population (median age 35.7).
Ryegate has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.8%).
Amsterdam has the most people working from home (10.5%).
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 | Oswego | Ryegate | Amsterdam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 13,738 |
17,033 |
1,059Lowest |
18,166Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±2.6 about the U.S. average |
35.7±1.6Lowest 8% below U.S. |
41.2±2.6Highest 6% above U.S. |
39.5±1.2 about the U.S. average |
| Ryegate 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 U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
23%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Olean and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ryegate 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
26.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$53,172±$4k 34% below U.S. |
$66,484±$15kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$56,178±$8k 30% below U.S. |
| Ryegate and Amsterdam 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. |
$120,600±$7k 64% below U.S. |
$219,300±$32kHighest 34% below U.S. |
$137,900±$11k 59% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$1,109±$72Highest 22% below U.S. |
$908±$236 36% below U.S. |
$1,006±$45 29% below U.S. |
| Oswego 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 |
$3,362 8% above U.S. |
$3,472 11% above U.S. |
$4,369Highest 40% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
60.4%±7.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±29.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.4%±6.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Oswego and Ryegate 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% |
20.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
20.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
50.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
53% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1949Highest 31 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
19 min 30% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.2%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±3.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #285 of 484 in NY | — | #474 of 484 in NY |
| School district | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | OSWEGO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | AMSTERDAM CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | OSWEGO HIGH SCHOOL | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Lowest |
12.5Highest |
— | — |
| 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.