Compare towns

Westmore vs Amsterdam vs Benson

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Westmore has the most expensive homes ($330k median).
Amsterdam has the most affordable homes ($138k median).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).

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.

MeasureWestmoreAmsterdamBenson
People
Population
465Lowest
18,166Highest
784
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-2.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-7.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
51.5±11.5
32% above U.S.
39.5±1.2Lowest
about the U.S. average
51.9±9.4Highest
33% above U.S.
Benson and Westmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.5%±6.9
U.S.: 22%
23%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.5%±5.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Amsterdam and Westmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
28%±3.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.5%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
26.9%±4.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Westmore and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
32.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
22.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
32.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.4%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4%±1
U.S.: 6.4%
7%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Benson and Amsterdam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$87,188±$11kHighest
8% above U.S.
$56,178±$8kLowest
30% below U.S.
$78,625±$8k
about the U.S. average
Westmore and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$330,000±$137kHighest
about the U.S. average
$137,900±$11kLowest
59% below U.S.
$242,000±$26k
27% below U.S.
Westmore and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,050±$820
26% below U.S.
$1,006±$45Lowest
29% below U.S.
$1,113±$170Highest
21% below U.S.
Benson and Westmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,357Highest
72% above U.S.
$4,369
40% above U.S.
$4,125Lowest
32% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
35%±94.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
45.4%±6.8
U.S.: 51.1%
53.4%±35.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Benson and Amsterdam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
20.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
88.2%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
53%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 minHighest
32% above U.S.
21 minLowest
22% below U.S.
32 min
20% above U.S.
Work from home
14%±5.6
U.S.: 15.1%
10.5%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.6%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Benson and Westmore 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 —
School district — AMSTERDAM CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62
High school in town — None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.