What stands out worked out from the figures below

Burns has the most affordable homes ($101k median).

Ossian has the most people working from home (10.4%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Burns	Ossian
People
Population	888Highest	689Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-12.2%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-8.2%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	43.9±7.1Lowest 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%±4.1Highest NY: 20.5%	18.3%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Burns and Ossian are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.4%±4.9Lowest 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%	34.3%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±1.9Highest NY: 7%	1.9%±1.5Lowest NY: 7%
	Burns and Ossian are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$64,491±$6kLowest 25% 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	$172,700±$43kHighest 59% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$942±$139Highest 42% below NY	$867±$302Lowest 47% below NY
	Burns and Ossian 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	$4,366Highest 34% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.9%±48.9Lowest NY: 52.1%	42.9%±100Highest NY: 52.1%
	Ossian and Burns 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%	10.2%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%	89.4%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Lowest 10 yrs newer than NY	1978Highest 19 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 16% below NY	30 minHighest 8% below NY
Work from home	3%±2.1Lowest NY: 14.9%	10.4%±6Highest NY: 14.9%
	Ossian and Burns 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

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.