Compare towns
Oswego vs Hamlin vs Amsterdam
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 most affordable homes ($121k median).
Hamlin has the most homeowners (89.3%).
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 | Oswego | Hamlin | Amsterdam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,033 |
8,652Lowest |
18,166Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.7%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-3.5% NY: +4.2% |
-2.2%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 35.7±1.6Lowest 10% below NY |
41.9±3.7Highest 5% above NY |
39.5±1.2 about the NY average |
| Hamlin and Amsterdam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±2.6 NY: 20.5% |
20.2%±3.5Lowest 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% |
19.9%±3.2Highest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±2.1 NY: 17.9% |
| Hamlin 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% NY: 40.2% |
27.3%Highest NY: 40.2% |
22.5%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±2Highest NY: 7% |
3.9%±1.3Lowest NY: 7% |
4%±1 NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $53,172±$4kLowest 38% below NY |
$83,510±$9kHighest about the NY average |
$56,178±$8k 35% below NY |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $120,600±$7kLowest 72% below NY |
$166,200±$9kHighest 61% below NY |
$137,900±$11k 67% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$72Highest 32% below NY |
$1,062±$137 34% below NY |
$1,006±$45Lowest 38% below NY |
| Oswego and Hamlin 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 |
$4,343 34% below NY |
$4,369Highest 34% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.4%±7.4Highest NY: 52.1% |
59.6%±13.6 NY: 52.1% |
45.4%±6.8Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Oswego and Hamlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 20.6%Highest NY: 14% |
11.5%Lowest NY: 14% |
20.2% NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.2%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
89.3%Highest NY: 54.3% |
53% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 43% below NY |
28 minHighest 15% below NY |
21 min 37% below NY |
| Work from home | 8.6%±2.9Lowest NY: 14.9% |
12.2%±4.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
10.5%±3.2 NY: 14.9% |
| Hamlin 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 | #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 | 6 photos → | 6 photos → |
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.