The Town FilesOssian, New York
Town in Livingston County · population 724 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $172,700
- Household income
- $71,738
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 36 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 52.3
Ossian is a town of 724 people in Livingston County, New York. The median home is worth $172,700, below the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks easier by car than 90% of New York towns, quieter than 89% of New York towns, better transit than 70% of New York towns.
How Ossian ranks
Percentile among New York towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New York towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Ossian is worth $172,700, below the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $71,738, which is more affordable than 67% of New York towns. Median rent is $867 a month. 89.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Ossian | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $172,700 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $867 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $71,738 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 89.4% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 13.1% | — |
Who lives in Ossian
| People | Ossian | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 52.3 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 30.8% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 18.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 34.3% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.2% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 5.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.7% | — |
| Work from home | 10.4% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 30.1 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.5% | 91.1% |
Weather in Ossian
July highs average 83.2°F and January lows 16.8°F. About 31.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 35.6 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 143 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ossian since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on September 19, 2022 about 9.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 19, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 3 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 10, 2000.
Severe weather in Livingston County since 1996
Livingston County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 20, 2020 | Biological | DR-4480: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3434: Covid-19 |
| July 8, 2014 | Severe Storm | DR-4180: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| October 28, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3351: Hurricane Sandy |
| June 10, 2011 | Flood | DR-1993: Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, And Straight-Line Winds |
Jobs and pay in Livingston County
Livingston County had 19,670 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $56,835 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Ossian itself the ACS puts it at 4.4%.
Towns near Ossian
- Dansville, NY5.0 mi · 4,433 people · home $118,600
- North Dansville, NY5.0 mi · 5,321 people · home $116,500
- Burns, NY5.5 mi · 1,036 people · home $100,800
- Dansville, NY6.5 mi · 1,835 people · home $132,700
- West Sparta, NY6.7 mi · 1,156 people · home $99,400
- Nunda, NY7.0 mi · 2,688 people · home $123,900
- Sparta, NY8.7 mi · 1,583 people · home $168,800
- Wayland, NY8.8 mi · 3,732 people · home $105,400
Ossian questions
Is Ossian, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Ossian scores better for retirees than 58% of New York towns and quieter than 89%. 30.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 52.3).
How much does a house cost in Ossian?
The median owner-occupied home in Ossian is valued at $172,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $71,738, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $867 a month.
What is the weather like in Ossian?
July highs average 83.2°F and January lows 16.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 31.4 inches of precipitation a year and 35.6 inches of snow.
Does Ossian get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ossian since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on September 19, 2022. The typical New York town has had 5.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)