What stands out worked out from the figures below

Clay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).

Cairo has the most expensive homes ($263k 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	Clay	Cairo
People
Population	59,995Highest	6,700Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4%Highest NY: +4.2%	-0.4%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	39.8±1Lowest about the NY average	44.2±4.2Highest 11% above NY
	Cairo and Clay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.1%±1.3Highest NY: 20.5%	17.9%±3.5Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Clay and Cairo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.7%±1.1Lowest NY: 17.9%	22.9%±4.2Highest NY: 17.9%
	Cairo and Clay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	38.2%Highest NY: 40.2%	28.9%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±0.7Highest NY: 7%	3.7%±1.5Lowest NY: 7%
	Clay and Cairo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$90,707±$6kHighest 6% above NY	$79,643±$22kLowest 7% below NY
	Clay and Cairo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$205,900±$6kLowest 51% below NY	$263,400±$18kHighest 38% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,240±$40Highest 24% below NY	$1,015±$305Lowest 37% below NY
	Clay and Cairo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,087Highest 23% below NY	$4,246Lowest 35% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.6%±5.6Highest NY: 52.1%	45.1%±16.2Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Clay and Cairo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.4%Lowest NY: 14%	10.5%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.2%Lowest NY: 54.3%	75.2%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 19 yrs newer than NY	1973Lowest 14 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 34% below NY	29 minHighest 13% below NY
Work from home	13.1%±1.4Highest NY: 14.9%	11.1%±6.2Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Clay 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	#249 of 484 in NY	#461 of 484 in NY
School district	LIVERPOOL CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · NORTH SYRACUSE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	CAIRO-DURHAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	LIVERPOOL HIGH SCHOOL	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	14.0	—
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.