Compare towns

Pendleton 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).
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.

MeasurePendletonRiptonAmherst
People
Population
7,034
508Lowest
130,546Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10%
U.S.: +7.4%
+25.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
46.7±4.1
20% above U.S.
47.7±14.2Highest
23% above U.S.
39.1±0.8Lowest
about the U.S. average
Ripton 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
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%
30.5%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.5%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Ripton and Pendleton 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
U.S.: 35.7%
48%
U.S.: 35.7%
57.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4%±2.1Lowest
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.
$112,917±$15k
40% above U.S.
$93,483±$2kLowest
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±$39kLowest
12% below U.S.
$394,400±$61kHighest
19% above U.S.
$311,600±$7k
6% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$994±$119Lowest
30% below U.S.
—
$1,393±$45Highest
about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,623Highest
112% above U.S.
$4,915Lowest
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%
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%
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%
90.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
69.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978Highest
2 yrs older 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.
24 minHighest
9% below U.S.
20 minLowest
24% below U.S.
Work from home
18.4%±6.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.2%±8.7
U.S.: 15.1%
15.9%±1.4Lowest
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 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 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

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.