Compare towns
Wheatfield vs Williamson vs Pendleton vs Amherst
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wheatfield has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
Williamson has the most affordable homes ($193k median).
Pendleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).
Amherst has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Wheatfield | Williamson | Pendleton | Amherst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,549 |
6,823Lowest |
7,034 |
130,546Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% NY: +4.2% |
-1.8%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+10%Highest NY: +4.2% |
+5.9% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 47.3±2.1Highest 19% above NY |
40.9±4.2 about the NY average |
46.7±4.1 17% above NY |
39.1±0.8Lowest about the NY average |
| Wheatfield and Pendleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±3.3Highest NY: 20.5% |
19.6%±3.3 NY: 20.5% |
21.6%±4.8 NY: 20.5% |
19.2%±1Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Wheatfield and Pendleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.1%±2.3Highest NY: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.5Lowest NY: 17.9% |
23%±4.3 NY: 17.9% |
21.5%±0.9 NY: 17.9% |
| Wheatfield and Pendleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.3% NY: 40.2% |
34.2%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
34.9% NY: 40.2% |
57.3%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.5 NY: 7% |
4.5%±2 NY: 7% |
4%±2.1Lowest NY: 7% |
13.3%±0.8Highest NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $93,682±$6k 9% above NY |
$90,515±$14kLowest 5% above NY |
$113,750±$27kHighest 32% above NY |
$93,483±$2k 9% above NY |
| Pendleton and Wheatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $314,900±$19kHighest 26% below NY |
$192,700±$18kLowest 55% below NY |
$294,300±$39k 31% below NY |
$311,600±$7k 26% below NY |
| Wheatfield and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $989±$87 39% below NY |
$659±$304Lowest 59% below NY |
$994±$119 39% below NY |
$1,393±$45Highest 14% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,735 13% below NY |
$5,172Lowest 21% below NY |
$6,623Highest about the NY average |
$5,935 10% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.8%±11.9Highest NY: 52.1% |
25.1%±12.5 NY: 52.1% |
6.6%±17.3Lowest NY: 52.1% |
53.1%±4.3 NY: 52.1% |
| Wheatfield and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.9%Lowest NY: 14% |
9% NY: 14% |
9.4% NY: 14% |
10.1%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.4% NY: 54.3% |
86.9% NY: 54.3% |
91.1%Highest NY: 54.3% |
69.9%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 27 yrs newer than NY |
1965Lowest 6 yrs newer than NY |
1978 19 yrs newer than NY |
1971 12 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 29% below NY |
25 minHighest 25% below NY |
23 min 31% below NY |
20 minLowest 39% below NY |
| Work from home | 11.5%±2.5Lowest NY: 14.9% |
16.2%±6.5 NY: 14.9% |
18.4%±6.6Highest NY: 14.9% |
15.9%±1.4 NY: 14.9% |
| Pendleton and Williamson 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 | #9 of 484 in NY | #221 of 484 in NY | #67 of 484 in NY | #72 of 484 in NY |
| School district | NIAGARA-WHEATFIELD CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | WILLIAMSON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | STARPOINT CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | AMHERST CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · SWEET HOME CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | None in town | WILLIAMSON SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | STARPOINT HIGH SCHOOL | WILLIAMSVILLE NORTH HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.3Lowest |
14.5Highest |
11.2 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NY 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.