What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ossian has the most expensive homes ($173k median).

Boylston has the most people working from home (14%).

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	Ossian	Boylston
People
Population	689Highest	545Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-8.2%Highest NY: +4.2%	-9.3%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	52.3±13.9Highest 31% above NY	51.2±8.8Lowest 29% above NY
	Ossian and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.3%±3.9Highest NY: 20.5%	16.3%±5.4Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Ossian and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	30.8%±8Highest NY: 17.9%	18%±5.9Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Ossian and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.3%Highest NY: 40.2%	27.3%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.9%±1.5Highest NY: 7%	1.7%±1.2Lowest NY: 7%
	Ossian and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$71,738±$6kLowest 17% below NY	$75,000±$16kHighest 13% below NY
	Boylston and Ossian are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$172,700±$43kHighest 59% below NY	$140,300±$51kLowest 67% below NY
	Ossian and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$867±$302Lowest 47% below NY	$950±$196Highest 41% below NY
	Boylston and Ossian are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,366Highest 34% below NY	$2,500Lowest 62% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.9%±100Lowest NY: 52.1%	72%±77.4Highest NY: 52.1%
	Boylston and Ossian are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.2%Highest NY: 14%	5.1%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.4%Highest NY: 54.3%	86.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 19 yrs newer than NY	1986Highest 27 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 8% below NY	33 minHighest about the NY average
Work from home	10.4%±6Lowest NY: 14.9%	14%±6Highest NY: 14.9%
	Boylston 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

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.