What stands out worked out from the figures below

Busti has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).

Durham has the most expensive homes ($245k median).

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	Busti	Durham
People
Population	7,452Highest	2,641Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6%Highest NY: +4.2%	-3.6%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	46.6±4.8Lowest 17% above NY	48.8±5.1Highest 23% above NY
	Durham and Busti are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.9%±3.3Highest NY: 20.5%	18.3%±5.2Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Busti and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.8%±3.5Lowest NY: 17.9%	24.2%±7Highest NY: 17.9%
	Durham and Busti are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29.5%Highest NY: 40.2%	28.3%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.4%±1.1Highest NY: 7%	1.3%±1.2Lowest NY: 7%
	Busti and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$67,292±$9kLowest 22% below NY	$81,471±$15kHighest 5% below NY
	Durham and Busti are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$164,600±$12kLowest 61% below NY	$245,300±$26kHighest 42% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,085±$106Highest 33% below NY	$994±$844Lowest 39% below NY
	Busti and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,876Highest 41% below NY	$3,728Lowest 43% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.5%±13.2Highest NY: 52.1%	19.3%±40.8Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Busti and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.4%Highest NY: 14%	4.1%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%	92%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Lowest 4 yrs newer than NY	1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 35% below NY	33 minHighest about the NY average
Work from home	9.5%±4.5Lowest NY: 14.9%	13%±7.8Highest NY: 14.9%
	Durham and Busti 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.