Compare towns
Wright vs Evans 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).
Evans has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
Amherst has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
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 | Wright | Evans | Amherst |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,739Lowest |
15,183 |
130,546Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5% NY: +4.2% |
-6.4%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+5.9%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7Highest 29% above NY |
49.5±2.8 24% above NY |
39.1±0.8Lowest about the NY average |
| Wright and Evans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±3.1 NY: 20.5% |
15.7%±2.2Lowest NY: 20.5% |
19.2%±1Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Amherst and Wright 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%±2.5Highest NY: 17.9% |
21.5%±0.9 NY: 17.9% |
| Evans 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% NY: 40.2% |
22.3%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
57.3%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.6Lowest NY: 7% |
3.6%±0.9 NY: 7% |
13.3%±0.8Highest NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,250±$13k about the NY average |
$72,467±$8kLowest 16% 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 |
$176,500±$10kLowest 58% below NY |
$311,600±$7kHighest 26% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $953±$79 41% below NY |
$919±$104Lowest 43% below NY |
$1,393±$45Highest 14% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,279 20% below NY |
$4,590Lowest 30% below NY |
$5,935Highest 10% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.6%±16.4 NY: 52.1% |
25.7%±10.7Lowest NY: 52.1% |
53.1%±4.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Amherst and Wright are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7%Lowest NY: 14% |
11.9%Highest NY: 14% |
10.1% NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% NY: 54.3% |
86.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
69.9%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 24 yrs newer than NY |
1957Lowest 2 yrs older than NY |
1971 12 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest about the NY average |
29 min 11% below NY |
20 minLowest 39% below NY |
| Work from home | 5.9%±2.8Lowest NY: 14.9% |
8.8%±2.4 NY: 14.9% |
15.9%±1.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #180 of 484 in NY | #72 of 484 in NY |
| School district | — | EVANS-BRANT CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT (LAKE SHORE) | AMHERST CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · SWEET HOME CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | LAKE SHORE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | WILLIAMSVILLE NORTH HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.6Lowest |
11.2Highest |
| 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.