Compare towns
Burns vs Columbus vs Ossian
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Burns has the most affordable homes ($101k median).
Columbus has the most people working from home (22.2%).
Ossian has the most expensive homes ($173k median).
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 | Burns | Columbus | Ossian |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 888Highest |
849 |
689Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -12.2%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-7.9%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-8.2% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 43.9±7.1 10% above NY |
43.6±11.8Lowest 10% above NY |
52.3±13.9Highest 31% above NY |
| Ossian and Burns are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±4.1 NY: 20.5% |
21.8%±9Highest NY: 20.5% |
18.3%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Columbus and Burns are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.4%±4.9 NY: 17.9% |
17.8%±6.1Lowest NY: 17.9% |
30.8%±8Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Ossian and Burns are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
19.1% NY: 40.2% |
34.3%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.9Highest NY: 7% |
2.8%±2.1 NY: 7% |
1.9%±1.5Lowest NY: 7% |
| Burns and Columbus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,491±$6k 25% below NY |
$58,889±$11kLowest 32% below NY |
$71,738±$6kHighest 17% below NY |
| Ossian and Burns are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $100,800±$18kLowest 76% below NY |
$124,700±$36k 71% below NY |
$172,700±$43kHighest 59% below NY |
| Ossian and Columbus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $942±$139 42% below NY |
$1,500±$635Highest 7% below NY |
$867±$302Lowest 47% below NY |
| Columbus and Burns are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,783Lowest 58% below NY |
$3,071 53% below NY |
$4,366Highest 34% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±48.9Lowest NY: 52.1% |
53.6%±92.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
42.9%±100 NY: 52.1% |
| Columbus and Ossian are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.6%Highest NY: 14% |
9.6%Lowest NY: 14% |
10.2% NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.7%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
88.2% NY: 54.3% |
89.4%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 10 yrs newer than NY |
1983Highest 24 yrs newer than NY |
1978 19 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 16% below NY |
32 minHighest about the NY average |
30 min 8% below NY |
| Work from home | 3%±2.1Lowest NY: 14.9% |
22.2%±16.1Highest NY: 14.9% |
10.4%±6 NY: 14.9% |
| Columbus and Ossian 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.