What stands out worked out from the figures below

Otselic has the most people working from home (5.6%).

Pharsalia has the most kids (27.5% under 18).

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	Otselic	Pharsalia
People
Population	909Highest	563Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-18.5%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-13%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	53.3±9.8Highest 34% above NY	44.9±11.7Lowest 13% above NY
	Otselic and Pharsalia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.8%±4.4Lowest NY: 20.5%	27.5%±9.5Highest NY: 20.5%
	Pharsalia and Otselic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.7%±3.9Highest NY: 17.9%	16.9%±4Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Otselic and Pharsalia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	14.3%Lowest NY: 40.2%	15.2%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2%±2Lowest NY: 7%	2.7%±2Highest NY: 7%
	Pharsalia and Otselic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$63,854±$4kLowest 26% below NY	$77,083±$10kHighest 10% below NY
	Pharsalia and Otselic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$107,800±$18kLowest 75% below NY	$126,400±$21kHighest 70% below NY
	Pharsalia and Otselic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$900±$171Lowest 44% below NY	$913±$521Highest 44% below NY
	Pharsalia and Otselic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,235Highest 66% below NY	$1,925Lowest 71% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.3%±29.6Highest NY: 52.1%	29.4%±100Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Otselic and Pharsalia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.2%Highest NY: 14%	6.4%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.6%Highest NY: 54.3%	83.8%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 12 yrs newer than NY	1974Highest 15 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 8% below NY	30 minLowest 9% below NY
Work from home	5.6%±5.8Highest NY: 14.9%	3.8%±3.2Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Otselic and Pharsalia 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.