Compare towns
Olean vs Scott 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).
Scott has the most homeowners (96%).
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 | Scott | Amsterdam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,738 |
434Lowest |
18,166Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-18.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
55.5±9.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
39.5±1.2 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
7.6%±4.4Lowest 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% |
31.8%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±4.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Scott and Amsterdam 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. |
$60,795±$13kHighest 25% below U.S. |
$56,178±$8k 30% below U.S. |
| Scott 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. |
$229,500±$88kHighest 31% below U.S. |
$137,900±$11k 59% below U.S. |
| Scott and Amsterdam 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. |
$775±$371Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,006±$45Highest 29% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,130 about the U.S. average |
$2,682Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$4,369Highest 40% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52%±9.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.4%±6.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Olean and Amsterdam 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% |
8.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
20.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
53%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±3.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Amsterdam and Olean 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 |
— | — |
| 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.