Compare towns

Olean vs Ripton 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).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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.

MeasureOleanRiptonAmsterdam
People
Population
13,738
508Lowest
18,166Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+25.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39±2.6Lowest
about the U.S. average
47.7±14.2Highest
23% above U.S.
39.5±1.2
about the U.S. average
Ripton 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%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
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%
30.5%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.5%±2.1
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
29.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
48%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
22.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.6%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
20.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4%±1
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$51,261±$7kLowest
37% below U.S.
$112,917±$15kHighest
40% above U.S.
$56,178±$8k
30% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$86,100±$6kLowest
74% below U.S.
$394,400±$61kHighest
19% above U.S.
$137,900±$11k
59% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$794±$52Lowest
44% below U.S.
—
$1,006±$45Highest
29% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,130Lowest
about the U.S. average
$4,915Highest
58% above U.S.
$4,369
40% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52%±9.1
U.S.: 51.1%
52.9%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
45.4%±6.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Ripton 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%
8.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
20.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
55.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
90.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
53%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1973Highest
7 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
14 minLowest
45% below U.S.
24 minHighest
9% below U.S.
21 min
22% below U.S.
Work from home
8.4%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.2%±8.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.5%±3.2
U.S.: 15.1%
Ripton 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 Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 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
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On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.