What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Harmony has the most affordable homes ($128k 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	Durham	Harmony
People
Population	2,641Highest	2,344Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.6%Highest NY: +4.2%	-3.9%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	48.8±5.1Highest 23% above NY	41.8±7Lowest 5% above NY
	Durham and Harmony 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%	22.9%±3.7Highest NY: 20.5%
	Harmony 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%	17.7%±2.1Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Durham and Harmony 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%	17.1%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.3%±1.2Lowest NY: 7%	3%±1.6Highest NY: 7%
	Harmony 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	$58,600±$11kLowest 32% below NY
	Durham and Harmony 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	$128,300±$15kLowest 70% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$994±$844Highest 39% below NY	$788±$40Lowest 51% below NY
	Durham and Harmony 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	$2,805Lowest 57% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	19.3%±40.8Lowest NY: 52.1%	43%±18.6Highest NY: 52.1%
	Harmony 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%	9.1%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92%Highest NY: 54.3%	84.6%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY	1975Lowest 16 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest about the NY average	26 minLowest 21% below NY
Work from home	13%±7.8Highest NY: 14.9%	8.1%±4.4Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Durham and Harmony 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	PANAMA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	CAIRO-DURHAM HIGH SCHOOL	PANAMA 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.