Compare towns
Sutton vs Olean vs Amsterdam vs Waterville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sutton has the most people working from home (11.6%).
Olean has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Amsterdam has the most renters (47% rent).
Waterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
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 | Sutton | Olean | Amsterdam | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 790 |
1,664 |
18,166Highest |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.6±5.7 20% above U.S. |
53.8±5.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
39.5±1.2Lowest about the U.S. average |
49.1±8.2 26% above U.S. |
| Olean and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±8.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Amsterdam and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Olean and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Waterville and Amsterdam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$18k 12% below U.S. |
$74,583±$20kHighest 8% below U.S. |
$56,178±$8kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$71,250±$27k 12% below U.S. |
| Olean and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $231,100±$41k 31% below U.S. |
$158,600±$17k 52% below U.S. |
$137,900±$11kLowest 59% below U.S. |
$236,300±$15kHighest 29% below U.S. |
| Waterville and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $666±$334Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$1,006±$45 29% below U.S. |
$1,110±$93Highest 21% below U.S. |
| Waterville and Amsterdam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,975 27% above U.S. |
$4,027 29% above U.S. |
$4,369Highest 40% above U.S. |
$3,957Lowest 27% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±31.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±25.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.4%±6.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±27.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Olean and Amsterdam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
20.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
53%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.6%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton 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 | — | #337 of 484 in NY | #474 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | — | AMSTERDAM CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.