What stands out worked out from the figures below

Columbus has the most people working from home (22.2%).

Burns has the most affordable homes ($101k 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.

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

Measure	Columbus	Burns
People
Population	849Lowest	888Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-7.9%Highest NY: +4.2%	-12.2%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	43.6±11.8Lowest 10% above NY	43.9±7.1Highest 10% above NY
	Burns and Columbus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.8%±9Highest NY: 20.5%	21.2%±4.1Lowest 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+	17.8%±6.1Lowest NY: 17.9%	26.4%±4.9Highest NY: 17.9%
	Burns and Columbus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	19.1%Highest NY: 40.2%	17%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±2.1Lowest NY: 7%	2.9%±1.9Highest 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	$58,889±$11kLowest 32% below NY	$64,491±$6kHighest 25% below NY
	Burns and Columbus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$124,700±$36kHighest 71% below NY	$100,800±$18kLowest 76% below NY
	Columbus and Burns are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,500±$635Highest 7% below NY	$942±$139Lowest 42% 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	$3,071Highest 53% below NY	$2,783Lowest 58% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.6%±92.3Highest NY: 52.1%	37.9%±48.9Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Columbus and Burns are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.6%Lowest NY: 14%	11.6%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.2%Highest NY: 54.3%	87.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 24 yrs newer than NY	1969Lowest 10 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest about the NY average	27 minLowest 16% below NY
Work from home	22.2%±16.1Highest NY: 14.9%	3%±2.1Lowest NY: 14.9%
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.