What stands out worked out from the figures below

Starksboro has the most expensive homes ($288k median).

Amsterdam has the most affordable homes ($138k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Starksboro	Amsterdam
People
Population	1,939Lowest	18,166Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	38.2±4.8Lowest about the U.S. average	39.5±1.2Highest about the U.S. average
	Amsterdam and Starksboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	26.4%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22%	23%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Starksboro and Amsterdam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	19.5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Amsterdam and Starksboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	39.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	22.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Amsterdam and Starksboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$82,188±$15kHighest about the U.S. average	$56,178±$8kLowest 30% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$287,700±$42kHighest 14% below U.S.	$137,900±$11kLowest 59% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,306±$91Highest 8% below U.S.	$1,006±$45Lowest 29% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,536Highest 45% above U.S.	$4,369Lowest 40% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	28.6%±26.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	45.4%±6.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Amsterdam and Starksboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	20.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	53%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S.	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 11% above U.S.	21 minLowest 22% below U.S.
Work from home	18.5%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10.5%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#474 of 484 in NY
School district	Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61	AMSTERDAM CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.