Compare towns
Penfield vs Amherst vs Perinton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Penfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Amherst has the youngest population (median age 39.1).
Perinton has the oldest population (median age 45.9).
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 | Penfield | Amherst | Perinton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 38,965Lowest |
130,546Highest |
46,961 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8%Highest NY: +4.2% |
+5.9% NY: +4.2% |
+2.2%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 45±1.6 13% above NY |
39.1±0.8Lowest about the NY average |
45.9±1.4Highest 15% above NY |
| Perinton and Penfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23%±2.1Highest NY: 20.5% |
19.2%±1Lowest NY: 20.5% |
20.1%±1.6 NY: 20.5% |
| Penfield and Perinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±1.5Lowest NY: 17.9% |
21.5%±0.9 NY: 17.9% |
23.8%±1.5Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Perinton and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58% NY: 40.2% |
57.3%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
62.8%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.6Lowest NY: 7% |
13.3%±0.8Highest NY: 7% |
3.1%±0.6 NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $119,154±$5kHighest 39% above NY |
$93,483±$2kLowest 9% above NY |
$112,093±$5k 30% above NY |
| Penfield and Perinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $291,500±$12kLowest 31% below NY |
$311,600±$7kHighest 26% below NY |
$310,200±$9k 27% below NY |
| Amherst and Perinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,473±$120Highest 9% below NY |
$1,393±$45 14% below NY |
$1,349±$87Lowest 17% below NY |
| Penfield and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,223 10% above NY |
$5,935Lowest 10% below NY |
$7,684Highest 17% above NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±6.7 NY: 52.1% |
53.1%±4.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
49.1%±8.9Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Amherst and Penfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.3% NY: 14% |
10.1%Highest NY: 14% |
4.8%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.8%Highest NY: 54.3% |
69.9%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
79.2% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 22 yrs newer than NY |
1971Lowest 12 yrs newer than NY |
1977 18 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 39% below NY |
20 minLowest 39% below NY |
21 minHighest 37% below NY |
| Work from home | 23.2%±3Highest NY: 14.9% |
15.9%±1.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
21.2%±1.8 NY: 14.9% |
| Penfield and Perinton 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 | #21 of 484 in NY | #72 of 484 in NY | #136 of 484 in NY |
| School district | PENFIELD CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · WEBSTER CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | AMHERST CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · SWEET HOME CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | FAIRPORT CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | PENFIELD SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | WILLIAMSVILLE NORTH HIGH SCHOOL | FAIRPORT SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
11.2Lowest |
11.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.