What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ossian has the oldest population (median age 52.3).

Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.8%).

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	Ossian	Plainfield
People
Population	689Lowest	1,016Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-8.2%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+0.8%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	52.3±13.9Highest 31% above NY	34.5±6.6Lowest 13% below NY
	Ossian and Plainfield 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%	15.6%±2.8Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Ossian and Plainfield 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%	14.5%±2.7Lowest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.3%Highest NY: 40.2%	28.2%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.9%±1.5Lowest NY: 7%	14.9%±11.2Highest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$71,738±$6kHighest 17% below NY	$70,673±$6kLowest 18% below NY
	Ossian and Plainfield 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	$155,100±$17kLowest 63% below NY
	Ossian and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$867±$302Highest 47% below NY	$750±$207Lowest 54% below NY
	Ossian and Plainfield 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	$2,667Lowest 59% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.9%±100Highest NY: 52.1%	40.6%±43.5Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Ossian and Plainfield 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%	7.8%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.4%Highest NY: 54.3%	87.6%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 19 yrs newer than NY	1977Lowest 18 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 8% below NY	29 minLowest 10% below NY
Work from home	10.4%±6Lowest NY: 14.9%	11.5%±4.7Highest NY: 14.9%
	Plainfield 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.