Compare towns

Durham vs Altona

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Durham has the most people working from home (13%).
Altona has the most affordable homes ($151k 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.

MeasureDurhamAltona
People
Population
2,641Highest
2,490Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.6%Highest
NY: +4.2%
-7.7%Lowest
NY: +4.2%
Median age
48.8±5.1Highest
23% above NY
40±5Lowest
about the NY average
Durham and Altona are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.3%±5.2Lowest
NY: 20.5%
19.1%±4.7Highest
NY: 20.5%
Altona and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
24.2%±7Highest
NY: 17.9%
18.6%±5Lowest
NY: 17.9%
Durham and Altona are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
28.3%Highest
NY: 40.2%
6.1%Lowest
NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.3%±1.2Highest
NY: 7%
0.2%±0.7Lowest
NY: 7%
Durham and Altona are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$81,471±$15kHighest
5% below NY
$51,367±$3kLowest
40% below NY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$245,300±$26kHighest
42% below NY
$151,400±$26kLowest
64% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$994±$844Lowest
39% below NY
$997±$182Highest
38% below NY
Altona and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,728Highest
43% below NY
$1,687Lowest
74% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
19.3%±40.8Lowest
NY: 52.1%
69.5%±68.6Highest
NY: 52.1%
Altona and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.1%Lowest
NY: 14%
19.2%Highest
NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92%Highest
NY: 54.3%
77.7%Lowest
NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Lowest
17 yrs newer than NY
1980Highest
21 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
about the NY average
27 minLowest
16% below NY
Work from home
13%±7.8Highest
NY: 14.9%
2.3%±2.1Lowest
NY: 14.9%
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.