What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Ellenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).

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	Durham	Ellenburg
People
Population	2,641Highest	1,992Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.6%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+5.7%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	48.8±5.1Highest 23% above NY	46.7±4.5Lowest 17% above NY
	Durham and Ellenburg 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%	20.8%±4.1Highest NY: 20.5%
	Ellenburg and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.2%±7Lowest NY: 17.9%	24.4%±3.8Highest NY: 17.9%
	Ellenburg and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.3%Highest NY: 40.2%	16.7%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.3%±1.2Lowest NY: 7%	1.8%±0.9Highest NY: 7%
	Ellenburg and Durham 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	$73,125±$10kLowest 15% below NY
	Durham and Ellenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$245,300±$26kHighest 42% below NY	$123,000±$16kLowest 71% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$994±$844Highest 39% below NY	$801±$192Lowest 51% below NY
	Durham and Ellenburg 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	$2,412Lowest 63% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	19.3%±40.8Lowest NY: 52.1%	20.2%±15.7Highest NY: 52.1%
	Ellenburg 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%	12.4%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92%Highest NY: 54.3%	83.3%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY	1973Lowest 14 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest about the NY average	34 minHighest 4% above NY
Work from home	13%±7.8Highest NY: 14.9%	7.7%±4.2Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Durham and Ellenburg 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	NORTHERN ADIRONDACK CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	CAIRO-DURHAM HIGH SCHOOL	NORTHERN ADIRONDACK MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	7.9Lowest	8.5Highest
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.