Compare towns

Pendleton vs Vernon 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%).
Vernon has the most affordable homes ($285k 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.

MeasurePendletonVernonAmherst
People
Population
7,034
2,709Lowest
130,546Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
46.7±4.1Highest
20% above U.S.
42.6±5.4
10% above U.S.
39.1±0.8Lowest
about the U.S. average
Pendleton and Vernon 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%
15.1%±3.6Lowest
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%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.8%±2.1
U.S.: 17.2%
21.5%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Pendleton and Vernon 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%
26.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
57.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
3%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
13.3%±0.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$113,750±$27kHighest
41% above U.S.
$85,682±$9kLowest
6% above U.S.
$93,483±$2k
16% above U.S.
Pendleton and Amherst 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.
$285,100±$25kLowest
14% below U.S.
$311,600±$7kHighest
6% below U.S.
Amherst and Pendleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$994±$119Lowest
30% below U.S.
$1,023±$214
28% below U.S.
$1,393±$45Highest
about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,623Highest
112% above U.S.
$5,191Lowest
66% above U.S.
$5,935
90% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
6.6%±17.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
26.2%±3.7
U.S.: 51.1%
53.1%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line
9.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
76.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
69.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 minHighest
15% below U.S.
20 min
24% below U.S.
20 minLowest
24% below U.S.
Work from home
18.4%±6.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.4%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.9%±1.4
U.S.: 15.1%
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 #30 of 70 in VT #72 of 484 in NY
School district STARPOINT CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT Vernon 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.