What stands out worked out from the figures below

East Otto has the most people working from home (16.8%).

Ashford has the oldest population (median age 52.3).

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	East Otto	Ashford
People
Population	996Lowest	1,834Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-8.3%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-8%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	41.5±5.8Lowest 4% above NY	52.3±6.9Highest 31% above NY
	Ashford and East Otto are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.1%±5.4Highest NY: 20.5%	18%±5Lowest NY: 20.5%
	East Otto and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.1%±3.9Lowest NY: 17.9%	23.3%±3.5Highest NY: 17.9%
	Ashford and East Otto are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	17.3%Lowest NY: 40.2%	18.1%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.3%±1.5Lowest NY: 7%	1%±0.8Highest NY: 7%
	Ashford and East Otto are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$64,605±$18kLowest 25% below NY	$77,558±$11kHighest 10% below NY
	Ashford and East Otto are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$182,600±$27kLowest 57% below NY	$194,600±$43kHighest 54% below NY
	Ashford and East Otto are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$875±$166Highest 46% below NY	$654±$132Lowest 60% below NY
	East Otto and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,105Highest 38% below NY	$4,079Lowest 38% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.2%±39.6Highest NY: 52.1%	19.4%±79.6Lowest NY: 52.1%
	East Otto and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.8%Highest NY: 14%	6.4%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.2%Lowest NY: 54.3%	92%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY	1960Lowest 1 yr newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest about the NY average	30 minLowest 7% below NY
Work from home	16.8%±9.4Highest NY: 14.9%	7.1%±5.1Lowest NY: 14.9%
	East Otto and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.