What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ogdensburg has the most affordable homes ($85k median).

Ilion has the most people working from home (7.8%).

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	Ogdensburg	Ilion
People
Population	9,455Highest	7,593Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-9.6%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-5.1%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	42.5±2.1Lowest 7% above NY	44.9±3.4Highest 13% above NY
	Ilion and Ogdensburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.1%±2.9Lowest NY: 20.5%	20.8%±4.9Highest NY: 20.5%
	Ilion and Ogdensburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.5%±2.7Lowest NY: 17.9%	22.4%±4Highest NY: 17.9%
	Ilion and Ogdensburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	17.5%Lowest NY: 40.2%	22.8%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2%±1Highest NY: 7%	1.6%±1.1Lowest NY: 7%
	Ogdensburg and Ilion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$61,824±$8kLowest 28% below NY	$62,843±$16kHighest 27% below NY
	Ilion and Ogdensburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$85,400±$7kLowest 80% below NY	$108,700±$16kHighest 74% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$778±$77Highest 52% below NY	$694±$228Lowest 57% below NY
	Ogdensburg and Ilion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,644Lowest 60% below NY	$2,958Highest 55% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.5%±12.5Lowest NY: 52.1%	45.9%±15Highest NY: 52.1%
	Ilion and Ogdensburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16.1%Highest NY: 14%	14.5%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	66.5%Highest NY: 54.3%	66.2%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938 21 yrs older than NY	1938 21 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 47% below NY	20 minHighest 39% below NY
Work from home	4.8%±2.3Lowest NY: 14.9%	7.8%±4.3Highest NY: 14.9%
	Ilion and Ogdensburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#424 of 484 in NY	—
School district	NEW YORK STATE OFFICE MENTAL HEALTH (OMH) · OGDENSBURG CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT	—
High school in town	OGDENSBURG FREE ACADEMY	—
Students per teacherat that high school	9.6	—
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.