Compare towns
Durham vs Java vs Bennington vs Argyle
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%).
Java has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Argyle has the oldest population (median age 50.1).
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 | Java | Bennington | Argyle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,641 |
2,049Lowest |
3,220 |
3,636Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-3.7% NY: +4.2% |
-3.6%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 48.8±5.1 23% above NY |
44.2±5.5Lowest 11% above NY |
46.7±5.8 17% above NY |
50.1±3.9Highest 26% above NY |
| Argyle and Durham 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% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
20.5%±4.9 NY: 20.5% |
21%±5.2Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Argyle and Java 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% |
19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
22.4%±4.5 NY: 17.9% |
23.3%±5 NY: 17.9% |
| Durham and Argyle 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% |
24.6%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
26% NY: 40.2% |
25.5% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.2Lowest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4Highest NY: 7% |
2.5%±1.7 NY: 7% |
2.6%±1.7 NY: 7% |
| Java and Argyle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,471±$15kLowest 5% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$89,050±$10k 4% above NY |
$83,000±$14k 3% below NY |
| Java and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,300±$26k 42% below NY |
$223,900±$30kLowest 47% below NY |
$244,400±$24k 42% below NY |
$249,300±$26kHighest 41% below NY |
| Argyle and Durham 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 |
$863±$419Lowest 47% below NY |
$942±$344 42% below NY |
$1,068±$124Highest 34% below NY |
| Argyle and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,728Lowest 43% below NY |
$3,775 43% below NY |
$4,591 30% below NY |
$5,324Highest 19% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.3%±40.8 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
27.4%±29 NY: 52.1% |
45%±49.4Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Argyle and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.1% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
8%Highest NY: 14% |
4.5% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
90.7% NY: 54.3% |
90.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1969 10 yrs newer than NY |
1960 1 yr newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min about the NY average |
27 minLowest 17% below NY |
33 min about the NY average |
36 minHighest 11% above NY |
| Work from home | 13%±7.8Highest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
10.5%±4.9 NY: 14.9% |
6.6%±3.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Durham and Bennington 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 | — | — | #343 of 484 in NY |
| School district | CAIRO-DURHAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | — | ARGYLE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | CAIRO-DURHAM HIGH SCHOOL | — | — | ARGYLE JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.9Lowest |
— | — | 9.4Highest |
| 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.