Compare towns
Pendleton vs Rapids vs Amherst
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pendleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).
Rapids has the most kids (26% under 18).
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 | Rapids | Amherst |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,034 |
1,655Lowest |
130,546Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-3.2%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+5.9% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 46.7±4.1Highest 17% above NY |
44±7.7 11% above NY |
39.1±0.8Lowest about the NY average |
| Pendleton and Rapids are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±4.8 NY: 20.5% |
26%±8.8Highest NY: 20.5% |
19.2%±1Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Rapids and Pendleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23%±4.3Highest NY: 17.9% |
17.7%±5.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
21.5%±0.9 NY: 17.9% |
| Pendleton and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.9%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
42.5% NY: 40.2% |
57.3%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.1 NY: 7% |
1%±2Lowest NY: 7% |
13.3%±0.8Highest NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,750±$27k 32% above NY |
$121,875±$43kHighest 42% above NY |
$93,483±$2kLowest 9% above NY |
| Rapids and Pendleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $294,300±$39kLowest 31% below NY |
$294,700±$44k 30% below NY |
$311,600±$7kHighest 26% below NY |
| Amherst and Rapids are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $994±$119Lowest 39% below NY |
— | $1,393±$45Highest 14% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,623Highest about the NY average |
$6,522 about the NY average |
$5,935Lowest 10% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 6.6%±17.3 NY: 52.1% |
0%±63.6Lowest NY: 52.1% |
53.1%±4.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Below poverty line | 9.4% NY: 14% |
5%Lowest NY: 14% |
10.1%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.1%Highest NY: 54.3% |
90% NY: 54.3% |
69.9%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 19 yrs newer than NY |
1985Highest 26 yrs newer than NY |
1971Lowest 12 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 31% below NY |
25 minHighest 25% below NY |
20 minLowest 39% below NY |
| Work from home | 18.4%±6.6Highest NY: 14.9% |
18.1%±14.6 NY: 14.9% |
15.9%±1.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Pendleton and Rapids 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 | — | AMHERST CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · SWEET HOME CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | STARPOINT HIGH SCHOOL | — | 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 |
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.