Compare towns
Durham vs Ellenburg vs Java 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
Durham has the most people working from home (13%).
Ellenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
Java has the highest household income ($95k).
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 | Durham | Ellenburg | Java | Jay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,641Highest |
1,992Lowest |
2,049 |
2,354 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6% NY: +4.2% |
+5.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-0.8% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 48.8±5.1Highest 23% above NY |
46.7±4.5 17% above NY |
44.2±5.5Lowest 11% above NY |
48.8±4.6Highest 23% above NY |
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±5.2 NY: 20.5% |
20.8%±4.1Highest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
16%±4.1Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Ellenburg and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.2%±7 NY: 17.9% |
24.4%±3.8 NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
25.3%±4.8Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Jay and Ellenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.3% NY: 40.2% |
16.7%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
24.6% NY: 40.2% |
31.4%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.2Lowest NY: 7% |
1.8%±0.9 NY: 7% |
3%±2.4Highest NY: 7% |
1.7%±1.7 NY: 7% |
| Java and Ellenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,471±$15k 5% below NY |
$73,125±$10k 15% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$72,380±$19kLowest 16% below NY |
| Java and Durham 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 |
$223,900±$30k 47% below NY |
$196,900±$22k 54% below NY |
| Durham and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $994±$844 39% below NY |
$801±$192Lowest 51% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$1,272±$366Highest 22% below NY |
| Jay and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,728 43% below NY |
$2,412Lowest 63% below NY |
$3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$3,741 43% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.3%±40.8 NY: 52.1% |
20.2%±15.7 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
27.4%±21.1Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Jay and Ellenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.1% NY: 14% |
12.4%Highest NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
6.7% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92% NY: 54.3% |
83.3%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
88.4% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 17 yrs newer than NY |
1973 14 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min about the NY average |
34 minHighest 4% above NY |
27 minLowest 17% below NY |
28 min 13% below NY |
| Work from home | 13%±7.8Highest NY: 14.9% |
7.7%±4.2Lowest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
8.8%±3.2 NY: 14.9% |
| Durham and Java 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 | — | AUSABLE VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | CAIRO-DURHAM HIGH SCHOOL | NORTHERN ADIRONDACK MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.9Lowest |
8.5Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.