Below Average CostVery SafeAMSTERDAM CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
Sanford Clock Tower, Amsterdam · Beyond My Ken / CC BY-SA 4.0Market Street, Amsterdam, NY · Unknown authorUnknown author / Public domainLock E11 truss, movable dam and lock chamber · Beyond My Ken / CC BY-SA 4.0Wilbur Lynch Middle School, Amsterdam · Beyond My Ken / CC BY-SA 4.0
Amsterdam is a small city of 18,244 in New York, with a median household income of $46,338
and a 9.2% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 95 (US average = 100), which is
5% below the national average.
Strengths:
Amsterdam stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Amsterdam is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Amsterdam city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 94.7
Amsterdam's overall cost of living index is 94.7,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Amsterdam costs roughly 5% less than the average American city.
Metric
Amsterdam, NY
National Avg
Median Home Value
$107,900
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$906
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
48.9%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$46,338
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Amsterdam's violent crime rate is 131.9 per 100,000 residents
— 65% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
131.9 /100k
Property Crime
1401.2 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Amsterdam is served primarily by AMSTERDAM CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.1:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Amsterdam, NY
National Avg
School District
AMSTERDAM CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
—
Elementary Schools
4
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.1:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
19.4%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
86.9%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Amsterdam sees average highs of 31.1°F in January
and 81.5°F in July,
with 44.4 inches of annual precipitation
and 63.5 inches of snow per year.
Amsterdam's cost of living index is 95, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Amsterdam roughly 5% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $107,900 and median rent is $906/month.
Amsterdam's violent crime rate is 131.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1401.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Amsterdam are operated by AMSTERDAM CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT.
The district has 4 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.1:1. 19.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Amsterdam, NY has a population of 18,244, a median household income of $46,338, and an unemployment rate of 9.2%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Amsterdam averages 31.1°F in January and 81.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 44.4 inches
with about 63.5 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Amsterdam, NY is covered by 1 ZIP code: 12010.
The population of Amsterdam, New York is 18,244 with a median age of 39.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Amsterdam: cost of living index 95 (100 = US average), median home $107,900, median household income $46,338, crime index 48 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Amsterdam side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
