Compare towns
Olean vs Putney vs Townshend 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).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
Townshend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
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.
| Measure | Olean | Putney | Townshend | Amsterdam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 13,738 |
2,622 |
1,538Lowest |
18,166Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±2.6 about the U.S. average |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
55.6±9.6Highest 43% above U.S. |
39.5±1.2 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
12%±2.6Lowest 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%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±6.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Amsterdam and Townshend 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% |
48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$79,706±$18kHighest about the U.S. average |
$78,750±$29k about the U.S. average |
$56,178±$8k 30% below U.S. |
| Putney and Townshend 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. |
$300,000±$44kHighest 10% below U.S. |
$287,200±$79k 14% below U.S. |
$137,900±$11k 59% below U.S. |
| Putney and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$52 44% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,074±$80Highest 24% below U.S. |
$1,006±$45 29% below U.S. |
| Townshend 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 |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
$5,364Highest 72% above U.S. |
$4,369 40% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.4%±6.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townshend and Putney 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% |
16% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
20.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
53%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
18 min 32% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 5% below U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
28%±18.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Townshend and Putney 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | — | #474 of 484 in NY |
| School district | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | AMSTERDAM CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
— | 8.1Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | None yet | None yet |
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.