The Town FilesAmsterdam, New York
City in Montgomery County · population 18,219 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $137,900
- Household income
- $56,178
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 59 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 39.5
Amsterdam is a city of 18,219 people in Montgomery County, New York. The median home is worth $137,900, below the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks more walkable than 92% of New York towns, hipper than 89% of New York towns, more vibrant than 78% of New York towns.
How Amsterdam ranks
Percentile among New York towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New York towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Amsterdam is worth $137,900, below the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $56,178, which is more affordable than 63% of New York towns. Median rent is $1,006 a month. 53.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Amsterdam | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $137,900 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $1,006 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $56,178 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 53.0% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Amsterdam
| People | Amsterdam | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.5 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.5% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.5% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 20.2% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 6.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.6% | — |
| Work from home | 10.5% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 20.7 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.6% | 91.1% |
Weather in Amsterdam
July highs average 81.5°F and January lows 12.2°F. About 42.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 59.2 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 154 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Amsterdam since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on May 22, 2014 about 8.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 24, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 38 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on May 22, 2014.
Severe weather in Montgomery County since 1996
Montgomery County has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 22, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3565: Hurricane Henri |
| March 20, 2020 | Biological | DR-4480: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3434: Covid-19 |
| December 19, 2019 | Severe Storm | DR-4472: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| July 12, 2017 | Snowstorm | DR-4322: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Montgomery County
Montgomery County had 19,149 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,762 a year. Unemployment was 4.6% in 2023; in Amsterdam itself the ACS puts it at 6.7%.
Public schools in Amsterdam
3 public schools with 1,527 students, about 13.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| WILBUR H LYNCH LITERACY ACADEMY | 6-8 | 773 | 12.7 |
| RAPHAEL J MCNULTY ACADEMY FOR INTERN STUDIES & LITERACY | PK-5 | 460 | 14.4 |
| WILLIAM H BARKLEY MICROSOCIETY | PK-5 | 294 | 14.0 |
Towns near Amsterdam
- Amsterdam, NY1.6 mi · 5,557 people · home $216,100
- Florida, NY3.3 mi · 2,667 people · home $214,300
- Perth, NY4.5 mi · 3,584 people · home $349,200
- Glen, NY8.6 mi · 2,536 people · home $198,800
- Broadalbin, NY9.5 mi · 5,145 people · home $216,700
- Galway, NY10.2 mi · 3,525 people · home $365,100
- Charlton, NY10.2 mi · 4,328 people · home $340,200
- Johnstown, NY10.4 mi · 8,204 people · home $157,800
Amsterdam questions
Is Amsterdam, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Amsterdam scores better for retirees than 8% of New York towns and quieter than 5%. 19.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.5).
How much does a house cost in Amsterdam?
The median owner-occupied home in Amsterdam is valued at $137,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $56,178, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $1,006 a month.
What is the weather like in Amsterdam?
July highs average 81.5°F and January lows 12.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.6 inches of precipitation a year and 59.2 inches of snow.
Does Amsterdam get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Amsterdam since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on May 22, 2014. The typical New York town has had 5.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)