What stands out worked out from the figures below

Otselic has the most affordable homes ($108k median).

Stratford has the most people working from home (15.1%).

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	Stratford
People
Population	909Highest	769Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-18.5%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-11.8%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	53.3±9.8Highest 34% above NY	53.2±6.8Lowest 34% above NY
	Otselic and Stratford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.8%±4.4Highest NY: 20.5%	16.6%±4.8Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Otselic and Stratford 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%	20.8%±7.8Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Otselic and Stratford 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%	16%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2%±2Highest NY: 7%	0.3%±1.9Lowest NY: 7%
	Otselic and Stratford 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	$66,518±$22kHighest 23% below NY
	Stratford 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	$156,600±$45kHighest 63% below NY
	Stratford and Otselic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$900±$171Highest 44% below NY	$813±$389Lowest 50% below NY
	Otselic and Stratford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,235Lowest 66% below NY	$2,500Highest 62% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.3%±29.6Highest NY: 52.1%	27.5%±65.6Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Otselic and Stratford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.2%Lowest NY: 14%	27%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.6%Highest NY: 54.3%	85.5%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Highest 12 yrs newer than NY	1968Lowest 9 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 8% below NY	39 minHighest 20% above NY
Work from home	5.6%±5.8Lowest NY: 14.9%	15.1%±7.8Highest NY: 14.9%
	Stratford and Otselic 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.