Compare towns
Cairo vs Durham vs Jay
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cairo has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).
Durham has the most people working from home (13%).
Jay has the most affordable homes ($197k 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.
| Measure | Cairo | Durham | Jay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,700Highest |
2,641 |
2,354Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-3.6%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-0.8% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44.2±4.2Lowest 11% above NY |
48.8±5.1Highest 23% above NY |
48.8±4.6Highest 23% above NY |
| Kids under 18 | 17.9%±3.5 NY: 20.5% |
18.3%±5.2Highest NY: 20.5% |
16%±4.1Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Durham and Cairo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±4.2Lowest NY: 17.9% |
24.2%±7 NY: 17.9% |
25.3%±4.8Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Jay and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.9% NY: 40.2% |
28.3%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
31.4%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5Highest NY: 7% |
1.3%±1.2Lowest NY: 7% |
1.7%±1.7 NY: 7% |
| Cairo and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,643±$22k 7% below NY |
$81,471±$15kHighest 5% below NY |
$72,380±$19kLowest 16% below NY |
| Durham and Cairo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $263,400±$18kHighest 38% below NY |
$245,300±$26k 42% below NY |
$196,900±$22kLowest 54% below NY |
| Cairo and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,015±$305 37% below NY |
$994±$844Lowest 39% below NY |
$1,272±$366Highest 22% below NY |
| Jay and Cairo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,246Highest 35% below NY |
$3,728Lowest 43% below NY |
$3,741 43% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.2Highest NY: 52.1% |
19.3%±40.8Lowest NY: 52.1% |
27.4%±21.1 NY: 52.1% |
| Cairo and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.5%Highest NY: 14% |
4.1%Lowest NY: 14% |
6.7% NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.2%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
92%Highest NY: 54.3% |
88.4% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 14 yrs newer than NY |
1976 17 yrs newer than NY |
1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 13% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
28 minLowest 13% below NY |
| Work from home | 11.1%±6.2 NY: 14.9% |
13%±7.8Highest NY: 14.9% |
8.8%±3.2Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Durham and Cairo 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 | #461 of 484 in NY | #100 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | CAIRO-DURHAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | CAIRO-DURHAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | AUSABLE VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | None in town | CAIRO-DURHAM HIGH SCHOOL | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.