Compare towns
Ossian vs Putnam vs Boylston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ossian has the most kids (18.3% under 18).
Putnam has the most expensive homes ($266k 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.
| Measure | Ossian | Putnam | Boylston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 689Highest |
540Lowest |
545 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2% NY: +4.2% |
-6.9%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-9.3%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 52.3±13.9 31% above NY |
53.6±6.4Highest 35% above NY |
51.2±8.8Lowest 29% above NY |
| Putnam and Ossian 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% |
17.4%±5.2 NY: 20.5% |
16.3%±5.4Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Ossian and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.8%±8 NY: 17.9% |
35.6%±3.4Highest NY: 17.9% |
18%±5.9Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Putnam and Ossian 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% |
31.4% NY: 40.2% |
27.3%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.5 NY: 7% |
2.8%±1.9Highest NY: 7% |
1.7%±1.2Lowest NY: 7% |
| Putnam 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±$6kLowest 17% below NY |
$92,344±$14kHighest 7% above NY |
$75,000±$16k 13% below NY |
| Putnam and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $172,700±$43k 59% below NY |
$266,200±$48kHighest 37% below NY |
$140,300±$51kLowest 67% below NY |
| 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 |
$3,674 44% below NY |
$2,500Lowest 62% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±100 NY: 52.1% |
0%±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% |
7.2% NY: 14% |
5.1%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% NY: 54.3% |
95.9%Highest NY: 54.3% |
86.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 19 yrs newer than NY |
1971Lowest 12 yrs newer than NY |
1986Highest 27 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 8% below NY |
21 minLowest 34% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
| Work from home | 10.4%±6 NY: 14.9% |
8.6%±5.7Lowest 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. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.