Compare towns

Ripton vs Amsterdam vs Olean

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Amsterdam has the most kids (23% under 18).
Olean has the oldest population (median age 53.8).

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.

MeasureRiptonAmsterdamOlean
People
Population
508Lowest
18,166Highest
1,664
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+25.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
47.7±14.2
23% above U.S.
39.5±1.2Lowest
about the U.S. average
53.8±5.5Highest
38% above U.S.
Olean and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
11.8%±6.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.6%±4.5
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
30.5%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.5%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
25.2%±5.1
U.S.: 17.2%
Ripton and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
22.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
23.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
20.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4%±1
U.S.: 6.4%
2.5%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$112,917±$15kHighest
40% above U.S.
$56,178±$8kLowest
30% below U.S.
$74,583±$20k
8% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$394,400±$61kHighest
19% above U.S.
$137,900±$11kLowest
59% below U.S.
$158,600±$17k
52% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,006±$45Highest
29% below U.S.
$666±$334Lowest
53% below U.S.
Amsterdam and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,915Highest
58% above U.S.
$4,369
40% above U.S.
$4,027Lowest
29% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.9%±100
U.S.: 51.1%
45.4%±6.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
57.1%±25.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Olean and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
20.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
16.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
53%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
77.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973Highest
7 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1962
18 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minHighest
9% below U.S.
21 min
22% below U.S.
19 minLowest
30% below U.S.
Work from home
17.2%±8.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.5%±3.2
U.S.: 15.1%
5.8%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Ripton and Amsterdam 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 — #474 of 484 in NY #337 of 484 in NY
School district Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 AMSTERDAM CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT —
High school in town None in town None in town —
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.