Compare towns
Pendleton vs Wright vs Champlain 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%).
Wright has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
Champlain has the most affordable homes ($123k median).
Amherst has the most expensive homes ($312k median).
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 | Wright | Champlain | Amherst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,034 |
1,739 |
1,270Lowest |
130,546Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-1.5%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+6.3% NY: +4.2% |
+5.9% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 46.7±4.1 17% above NY |
51.4±4.7Highest 29% above NY |
39.6±14 about the NY average |
39.1±0.8Lowest about the NY average |
| Wright 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% |
16.7%±3.1Lowest NY: 20.5% |
19.1%±7.2 NY: 20.5% |
19.2%±1 NY: 20.5% |
| 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 NY: 17.9% |
21.4%±1.9Lowest NY: 17.9% |
24.1%±3.9Highest NY: 17.9% |
21.5%±0.9 NY: 17.9% |
| Champlain 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% NY: 40.2% |
24.4%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
27.4% NY: 40.2% |
57.3%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.1 NY: 7% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest NY: 7% |
6.2%±6.6 NY: 7% |
13.3%±0.8Highest NY: 7% |
| Amherst and Champlain 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 32% above NY |
$86,250±$13k about the NY average |
$65,000±$26kLowest 24% below NY |
$93,483±$2k 9% above NY |
| 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 31% below NY |
$242,000±$36k 43% below NY |
$122,700±$36kLowest 71% 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 |
$953±$79Lowest 41% below NY |
$1,071±$126 34% below NY |
$1,393±$45Highest 14% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,623Highest about the NY average |
$5,279 20% below NY |
$2,626Lowest 60% below NY |
$5,935 10% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 6.6%±17.3Lowest NY: 52.1% |
37.6%±16.4 NY: 52.1% |
58.6%±23.9Highest NY: 52.1% |
53.1%±4.3 NY: 52.1% |
| Champlain 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% |
7%Lowest NY: 14% |
12.5%Highest NY: 14% |
10.1% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.1%Highest NY: 54.3% |
80.6% NY: 54.3% |
59%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
69.9% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 19 yrs newer than NY |
1983Highest 24 yrs newer than NY |
1948Lowest 11 yrs older than NY |
1971 12 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 31% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
20 minLowest 39% below NY |
20 min 39% below NY |
| Work from home | 18.4%±6.6Highest NY: 14.9% |
5.9%±2.8Lowest NY: 14.9% |
8.7%±9 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 | — | #54 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 | 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.