Compare towns
Alma vs Scio vs Otselic
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Alma has grown the fastest since 2010 (-7.2%).
Scio has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Otselic has the most kids (16.8% under 18).
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 | Alma | Scio | Otselic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 644Lowest |
1,495Highest |
909 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.2%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-11.9% NY: +4.2% |
-18.5%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 52±7.6 31% above NY |
47.4±10.3Lowest 19% above NY |
53.3±9.8Highest 34% above NY |
| Otselic and Alma are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.5%±3Lowest NY: 20.5% |
16.3%±3.3 NY: 20.5% |
16.8%±4.4Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Otselic and Scio are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30%±2.2Highest NY: 17.9% |
22.1%±2.9Lowest NY: 17.9% |
22.7%±3.9 NY: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.6% NY: 40.2% |
19.7%Highest NY: 40.2% |
14.3%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.8%±8.6Highest NY: 7% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest NY: 7% |
2%±2 NY: 7% |
| Alma and Otselic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $45,000±$13kLowest 48% below NY |
$62,426±$11k 27% below NY |
$63,854±$4kHighest 26% below NY |
| Otselic and Scio are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $84,200±$17kLowest 80% below NY |
$117,100±$27kHighest 72% below NY |
$107,800±$18k 75% below NY |
| Scio and Otselic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $863±$158Lowest 47% below NY |
$900±$171Highest 44% below NY |
| Otselic and Scio are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,569 61% below NY |
$3,227Highest 51% below NY |
$2,235Lowest 66% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±78.5 NY: 52.1% |
44.3%±34.3Lowest NY: 52.1% |
55.3%±29.6Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Otselic and Alma are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 21.9%Highest NY: 14% |
17.6% NY: 14% |
14.2%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
90.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
86.6% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 15 yrs newer than NY |
1957Lowest 2 yrs older than NY |
1971 12 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 26% below NY |
21 minLowest 37% below NY |
30 minHighest 8% below NY |
| Work from home | 4.2%±4.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
6.3%±3.8Highest NY: 14.9% |
5.6%±5.8 NY: 14.9% |
| Scio and Otselic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| 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.