Compare towns
Ripton vs Amsterdam vs Olean vs Lincoln
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).
Lincoln has the most people working from home (18.8%).
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.
| Measure | Ripton | Amsterdam | Olean | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508Lowest |
18,166Highest |
1,664 |
1,394 |
| 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% |
+4.1% 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. |
45.7±3.6 17% 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% |
15.1%±3.7 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% |
22.3%±3 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% |
43.5% 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% |
2.9%±2.1 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. |
$96,667±$18k 20% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| 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. |
$365,200±$30k 10% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,006±$45Highest 29% below U.S. |
$666±$334Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$870±$47 38% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,915 58% above U.S. |
$4,369 40% above U.S. |
$4,027Lowest 29% above U.S. |
$6,100Highest 96% 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% |
49.1%±25.5 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
20.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5%Lowest 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% |
88.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.8%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lincoln and Ripton 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 | — | Lincoln Town School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.