Amsterdam, NY

Census place 3602066 · pop 18,166

D−45/ 100
🫤 Rough
F
in NY
📍 New York ranks #48 of 50 states →
🏆 Disaster33/100 · top 5%
🚽 Prop tax3.17% · bottom 1%
Taxes
3.17% property · US 0.99%8.54% sales · US 7.00%up to 10.90% income · US 4.63%

Sales & income are statewide.

The breakdown — worst first

Property-tax burden3.17%1

U.S. median 0.99% · worse than most cities

3.17% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.

Adult obesity41.2%13

U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities

41.2% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).

Poverty rate20.2%17

U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities

20.2% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.

Homeownership53.0%21

U.S. median 67.2% · worse than most cities

53.0% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.

Physical inactivity31.1%21

U.S. median 26.5% · worse than most cities

31.1% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.

Median household income$56,17822

U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities

$56,178 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.

Broadband access87.6%23

U.S. median 90.0% · worse than most cities

87.6% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.

Adult smoking15.8%27

U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities

15.8% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.

Bachelor's degree or higher22.5%30

U.S. median 24.3% · worse than most cities

22.5% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.

Uninsured adults11.8%33

U.S. median 9.3% · worse than most cities

11.8% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.

Income inequality0.4535

U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities

Gini 0.45 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).

Unemployment rateCounty-level4.0%36

U.S. median 3.6% · worse than most cities

4.0% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Population growth (5yr)+1.9%42

U.S. median +2.4% · worse than most cities

+1.9% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?

Poor mental health17.5%44

U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities

17.5% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).

Commute time21 min71

U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities

21 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.

Rent$1,338/mo80

U.S. median $1,756/mo · better than most cities

$1,338/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).

Housing cost$137,90089

U.S. median $214,900 · better than most cities

$137,900 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.

Natural disaster riskCounty-level33/10095

U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities

33/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Not measured for Amsterdam: Crime, Air, Bad air, Property crime. Not every public source covers every city — EPA air monitors and Zillow rent only reach some places, and national crime data is still being added.

Frequently asked

Is Amsterdam, NY a good place to live?
By the numbers, Amsterdam scores 45/100 — a D− (Rough) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 18 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is natural disaster risk and its weakest is property-tax burden. New York overall ranks #48 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
Is Amsterdam, NY expensive to live in?
Amsterdam has a median home value of $137,900 and typical rent around $1,338/mo — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
What's the biggest downside of living in Amsterdam, NY?
Its weakest measured area is property-tax burden (3.17%) — 1/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
What is Amsterdam, NY best at?
Its strongest measured area is natural disaster risk (33/100) — 95/100, better than most U.S. cities. (A county-level figure.)

Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.