Compare towns

Wright vs Champlain 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

Wright has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
Champlain has the most affordable homes ($123k median).
Amherst has the most people working from home (15.9%).

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.

MeasureWrightChamplainAmherst
People
Population
1,739
1,270Lowest
130,546Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.5%Lowest
NY: +4.2%
+6.3%Highest
NY: +4.2%
+5.9%
NY: +4.2%
Median age
51.4±4.7Highest
29% above NY
39.6±14
about the NY average
39.1±0.8Lowest
about the NY average
Wright and Champlain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.7%±3.1Lowest
NY: 20.5%
19.1%±7.2
NY: 20.5%
19.2%±1Highest
NY: 20.5%
Amherst and Champlain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.4%±1.9Lowest
NY: 17.9%
24.1%±3.9Highest
NY: 17.9%
21.5%±0.9
NY: 17.9%
Champlain and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
24.4%Lowest
NY: 40.2%
27.4%
NY: 40.2%
57.3%Highest
NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.1%±1.6Lowest
NY: 7%
6.2%±6.6
NY: 7%
13.3%±0.8Highest
NY: 7%
Amherst and Champlain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$86,250±$13k
about the NY average
$65,000±$26kLowest
24% below NY
$93,483±$2kHighest
9% above NY
Amherst and Wright are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$242,000±$36k
43% below NY
$122,700±$36kLowest
71% below NY
$311,600±$7kHighest
26% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$953±$79Lowest
41% below NY
$1,071±$126
34% below NY
$1,393±$45Highest
14% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,279
20% below NY
$2,626Lowest
60% below NY
$5,935Highest
10% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
37.6%±16.4Lowest
NY: 52.1%
58.6%±23.9Highest
NY: 52.1%
53.1%±4.3
NY: 52.1%
Champlain and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7%Lowest
NY: 14%
12.5%Highest
NY: 14%
10.1%
NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.6%Highest
NY: 54.3%
59%Lowest
NY: 54.3%
69.9%
NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983Highest
24 yrs newer than NY
1948Lowest
11 yrs older than NY
1971
12 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
about the NY average
20 minLowest
39% below NY
20 min
39% below NY
Work from home
5.9%±2.8Lowest
NY: 14.9%
8.7%±9
NY: 14.9%
15.9%±1.4Highest
NY: 14.9%
Amherst and Champlain 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 — #54 of 484 in NY #72 of 484 in NY
School district — — AMHERST CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · SWEET HOME CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town — — WILLIAMSVILLE NORTH HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school — —
11.2
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.