Compare towns
Oswego vs Andover 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
Oswego has the most affordable homes ($121k median).
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
Amsterdam has the most kids (23% under 18).
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 | Andover | Amsterdam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,033 |
616Lowest |
18,166Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.7±1.6Lowest 8% below U.S. |
49.2±5.1Highest 26% above U.S. |
39.5±1.2 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Andover and Amsterdam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $53,172±$4kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$102,500±$38kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$56,178±$8k 30% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $120,600±$7kLowest 64% below U.S. |
$382,900±$68kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$137,900±$11k 59% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$72 22% below U.S. |
$1,389±$364Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,006±$45Lowest 29% below U.S. |
| Andover and Oswego are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,362Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$5,190Highest 66% above U.S. |
$4,369 40% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.4%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.4%±6.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Andover and Oswego are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 20.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
20.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
53% 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 | 19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 5% below U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | 12 photos → |
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.