Compare towns
Pendleton vs Danby vs Ripton vs Amherst
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pendleton has the most kids (21.6% under 18).
Danby has the oldest population (median age 52.6).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Amherst has the most renters (30.1% rent).
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 | Pendleton | Danby | Ripton | Amherst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,034 |
1,133 |
508Lowest |
130,546Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.7±4.1 20% above U.S. |
52.6±4.8Highest 35% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
39.1±0.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Danby and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±1 U.S.: 22% |
| Pendleton and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.3%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ripton and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $113,750±$27kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$77,321±$13kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$112,917±$15k 40% above U.S. |
$93,483±$2k 16% above U.S. |
| Pendleton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $294,300±$39k 12% below U.S. |
$272,400±$41kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$311,600±$7k 6% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $994±$119 30% below U.S. |
$794±$166Lowest 44% below U.S. |
— | $1,393±$45Highest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,623Highest 112% above U.S. |
$4,543Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$5,935 90% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 6.6%±17.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.4%±34.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Amherst and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.4%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±1.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pendleton and Ripton 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 | #67 of 484 in NY | — | — | #72 of 484 in NY |
| School district | STARPOINT CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | AMHERST CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · SWEET HOME CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | STARPOINT HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | None in town | WILLIAMSVILLE NORTH HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.5Highest |
— | — | 11.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.