Compare towns

Cairo vs Durham vs Sheldon

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%).
Sheldon has the most affordable homes ($176k 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.

MeasureCairoDurhamSheldon
People
Population
6,700Highest
2,641
2,216Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.4%Highest
NY: +4.2%
-3.6%Lowest
NY: +4.2%
-1.7%
NY: +4.2%
Median age
44.2±4.2Lowest
11% above NY
48.8±5.1
23% above NY
48.9±7.6Highest
23% above NY
Sheldon and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.9%±3.5
NY: 20.5%
18.3%±5.2Highest
NY: 20.5%
14.9%±3.9Lowest
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%±3.2Highest
NY: 17.9%
Sheldon 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%Highest
NY: 40.2%
28.3%
NY: 40.2%
13.7%Lowest
NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±1.5Highest
NY: 7%
1.3%±1.2Lowest
NY: 7%
3.3%±2.8
NY: 7%
Cairo and Sheldon 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
$71,214±$5kLowest
17% 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
$175,900±$14kLowest
58% 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±$305Highest
37% below NY
$994±$844
39% below NY
$818±$84Lowest
50% below NY
Cairo and Durham 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
$3,728
43% below NY
$3,037Lowest
54% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
45.1%±16.2
NY: 52.1%
19.3%±40.8Lowest
NY: 52.1%
50.9%±21.3Highest
NY: 52.1%
Sheldon and Cairo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
10.5%
NY: 14%
4.1%Lowest
NY: 14%
11.8%Highest
NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.2%Lowest
NY: 54.3%
92%Highest
NY: 54.3%
81.6%
NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973
14 yrs newer than NY
1976Highest
17 yrs newer than NY
1963Lowest
4 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minLowest
13% below NY
33 minHighest
about the NY average
33 min
about the NY average
Work from home
11.1%±6.2
NY: 14.9%
13%±7.8Highest
NY: 14.9%
2.2%±1.6Lowest
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 —
High school in town None in town CAIRO-DURHAM HIGH SCHOOL —
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.