What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brookfield has the most affordable homes ($153k median).

Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.6%).

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	Brookfield	Durham
People
Population	2,150Lowest	2,641Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-11.7%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-3.6%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	41.2±6.1Lowest 4% above NY	48.8±5.1Highest 23% above NY
	Durham and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.8%±4.9Highest NY: 20.5%	18.3%±5.2Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Brookfield and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.9%±4Lowest NY: 17.9%	24.2%±7Highest NY: 17.9%
	Durham and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	16.8%Lowest NY: 40.2%	28.3%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.4%±1.3Highest NY: 7%	1.3%±1.2Lowest NY: 7%
	Brookfield and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$69,205±$9kLowest 20% below NY	$81,471±$15kHighest 5% below NY
	Durham and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$152,800±$28kLowest 64% below NY	$245,300±$26kHighest 42% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$981±$75Lowest 39% below NY	$994±$844Highest 39% below NY
	Durham and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,197Lowest 51% below NY	$3,728Highest 43% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.4%±35.6Highest NY: 52.1%	19.3%±40.8Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Brookfield and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16.6%Highest NY: 14%	4.1%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%	92%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 19 yrs newer than NY	1976Lowest 17 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 11% above NY	33 minLowest about the NY average
Work from home	11.5%±4.1Lowest NY: 14.9%	13%±7.8Highest NY: 14.9%
	Durham and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#100 of 484 in NY
School district	—	CAIRO-DURHAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	—	CAIRO-DURHAM HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	7.9
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.