What stands out worked out from the figures below

Oswego has the most affordable homes ($121k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Oswego	Amsterdam
People
Population	17,033Lowest	18,166Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.7%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-2.2%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	35.7±1.6Lowest 10% below NY	39.5±1.2Highest about the NY average
Kids under 18	21.9%±2.6Lowest NY: 20.5%	23%±2.3Highest NY: 20.5%
	Amsterdam and Oswego are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.3%±2.1Lowest NY: 17.9%	19.5%±2.1Highest NY: 17.9%
	Amsterdam and Oswego are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26.1%Highest NY: 40.2%	22.5%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	10.1%±2Highest NY: 7%	4%±1Lowest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$53,172±$4kLowest 38% below NY	$56,178±$8kHighest 35% below NY
	Amsterdam and Oswego are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$120,600±$7kLowest 72% below NY	$137,900±$11kHighest 67% below NY
	Amsterdam and Oswego are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,109±$72Highest 32% below NY	$1,006±$45Lowest 38% below NY
	Oswego and Amsterdam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,362Lowest 49% below NY	$4,369Highest 34% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	60.4%±7.4Highest NY: 52.1%	45.4%±6.8Lowest NY: 52.1%
Below poverty line	20.6%Highest NY: 14%	20.2%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	50.2%Lowest NY: 54.3%	53%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938 21 yrs older than NY	1938 21 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 43% below NY	21 minHighest 37% below NY
Work from home	8.6%±2.9Lowest NY: 14.9%	10.5%±3.2Highest NY: 14.9%
	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	#285 of 484 in NY	#474 of 484 in NY
School district	OSWEGO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT	AMSTERDAM CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	OSWEGO HIGH SCHOOL	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	12.5	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

NY 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.