Compare towns
Oswego vs Amsterdam vs Olean vs Scriba
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Oswego has the youngest population (median age 35.7).
Amsterdam has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.2%).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Scriba has the highest household income ($92k).
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 | Oswego | Amsterdam | Olean | Scriba |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,033 |
18,166Highest |
13,738 |
6,603Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.7%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-2.2%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-3.6% NY: +4.2% |
-3.3% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 35.7±1.6Lowest 10% below NY |
39.5±1.2 about the NY average |
39±2.6 about the NY average |
46.3±3.1Highest 16% above NY |
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±2.6 NY: 20.5% |
23%±2.3 NY: 20.5% |
23.5%±2.9Highest NY: 20.5% |
19.7%±3.6Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Olean and Amsterdam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.3%±2.1 NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±2.1Highest NY: 17.9% |
19.1%±2.5 NY: 17.9% |
18%±4.3Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Amsterdam and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.1% NY: 40.2% |
22.5%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
29.9%Highest NY: 40.2% |
25.5% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±2Highest NY: 7% |
4%±1 NY: 7% |
3.6%±1.1 NY: 7% |
1.2%±0.8Lowest NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,172±$4k 38% below NY |
$56,178±$8k 35% below NY |
$51,261±$7kLowest 40% below NY |
$92,036±$17kHighest 7% above NY |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $120,600±$7k 72% below NY |
$137,900±$11k 67% below NY |
$86,100±$6kLowest 80% below NY |
$158,700±$10kHighest 63% below NY |
| Scriba and Amsterdam 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±$45 38% below NY |
$794±$52Lowest 51% below NY |
$980±$67 40% 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 | $3,362 49% below NY |
$4,369Highest 34% below NY |
$3,130Lowest 52% below NY |
$3,649 45% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.4%±7.4Highest NY: 52.1% |
45.4%±6.8 NY: 52.1% |
52%±9.1 NY: 52.1% |
43.7%±13.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Oswego and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 20.6% NY: 14% |
20.2% NY: 14% |
26.7%Highest NY: 14% |
10.3%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.2%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
53% NY: 54.3% |
55.1% NY: 54.3% |
81.5%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1985Highest 26 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 43% below NY |
21 min 37% below NY |
14 minLowest 56% below NY |
21 minHighest 34% below NY |
| Work from home | 8.6%±2.9 NY: 14.9% |
10.5%±3.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
8.4%±2.6 NY: 14.9% |
6.6%±2.4Lowest 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 | #337 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | OSWEGO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | AMSTERDAM CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | OSWEGO HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5Highest |
— | 12.2Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.