What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

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	Ossian	Burns
People
Population	689Lowest	888Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-8.2%Highest NY: +4.2%	-12.2%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	52.3±13.9Highest 31% above NY	43.9±7.1Lowest 10% 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	18.3%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5%	21.2%±4.1Highest 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+	30.8%±8Highest NY: 17.9%	26.4%±4.9Lowest 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+	34.3%Highest NY: 40.2%	17%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.9%±1.5Lowest NY: 7%	2.9%±1.9Highest 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	$71,738±$6kHighest 17% below NY	$64,491±$6kLowest 25% 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	$172,700±$43kHighest 59% below NY	$100,800±$18kLowest 76% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$867±$302Lowest 47% below NY	$942±$139Highest 42% 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	$4,366Highest 34% below NY	$2,783Lowest 58% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.9%±100Highest NY: 52.1%	37.9%±48.9Lowest 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	10.2%Lowest NY: 14%	11.6%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.4%Highest NY: 54.3%	87.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 19 yrs newer than NY	1969Lowest 10 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 8% below NY	27 minLowest 16% below NY
Work from home	10.4%±6Highest NY: 14.9%	3%±2.1Lowest 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.