Compare towns
Pendleton vs Strafford 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
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 | Strafford | Amherst |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,034 |
1,372Lowest |
130,546Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.7±4.1 20% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
39.1±0.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Strafford and Pendleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Pendleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Pendleton and Strafford 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% |
53.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.3%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,750±$27kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
$93,483±$2kLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Pendleton and Strafford 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. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$311,600±$7k 6% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $994±$119Lowest 30% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
$1,393±$45Highest about the U.S. average |
| Amherst and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,623 112% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$5,935Lowest 90% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 6.6%±17.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Amherst and Strafford 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% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 13% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.4%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pendleton and Strafford 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 | Strafford School District | 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.