Compare towns
Pendleton vs Riga vs Marilla 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%).
Riga has the most affordable homes ($228k median).
Marilla has the most homeowners (92.4%).
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 | Riga | Marilla | Amherst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,034 |
5,534 |
5,148Lowest |
130,546Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-0.1% NY: +4.2% |
-2.6%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+5.9% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 46.7±4.1 17% above NY |
48.2±6.6Highest 21% above NY |
46.5±5.5 17% above NY |
39.1±0.8Lowest about the NY average |
| Riga and Pendleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±4.8Highest NY: 20.5% |
20.9%±4.6 NY: 20.5% |
15.4%±4.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
19.2%±1 NY: 20.5% |
| Pendleton and Riga 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% |
21.6%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.8 NY: 17.9% |
21.5%±0.9Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Pendleton and Riga are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.9% NY: 40.2% |
42.5% NY: 40.2% |
33.1%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
57.3%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.1 NY: 7% |
4.8%±1.8 NY: 7% |
3%±1.9Lowest NY: 7% |
13.3%±0.8Highest NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $113,750±$27kHighest 32% above NY |
$100,750±$10k 17% above NY |
$92,787±$23kLowest 8% above NY |
$93,483±$2k 9% above NY |
| Pendleton and Riga are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $294,300±$39k 31% below NY |
$227,600±$12kLowest 46% below NY |
$286,400±$36k 32% below NY |
$311,600±$7kHighest 26% below NY |
| Amherst and Pendleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $994±$119 39% below NY |
$907±$273Lowest 44% below NY |
$952±$95 41% below NY |
$1,393±$45Highest 14% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,623Highest about the NY average |
$4,622Lowest 30% below NY |
$5,098 23% below NY |
$5,935 10% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 6.6%±17.3Lowest NY: 52.1% |
56.7%±19.8Highest NY: 52.1% |
27.9%±44.9 NY: 52.1% |
53.1%±4.3 NY: 52.1% |
| Riga and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.4% NY: 14% |
3.2% NY: 14% |
2.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
10.1%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.1% NY: 54.3% |
87.1% NY: 54.3% |
92.4%Highest NY: 54.3% |
69.9%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 19 yrs newer than NY |
1977 18 yrs newer than NY |
1972 13 yrs newer than NY |
1971Lowest 12 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 31% below NY |
24 min 27% below NY |
28 minHighest 13% below NY |
20 minLowest 39% below NY |
| Work from home | 18.4%±6.6Highest NY: 14.9% |
10.7%±3.4 NY: 14.9% |
4.9%±2.3Lowest NY: 14.9% |
15.9%±1.4 NY: 14.9% |
| Pendleton and Amherst 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 | #96 of 484 in NY | #258 of 484 in NY | #72 of 484 in NY |
| School district | STARPOINT CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | CHURCHVILLE-CHILI CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | IROQUOIS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | AMHERST CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · SWEET HOME CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | STARPOINT HIGH SCHOOL | CHURCHVILLE-CHILI SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | WILLIAMSVILLE NORTH HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.5Highest |
11.4 |
— | 11.2Lowest |
| 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.