Compare towns
Durham vs Java vs Cairo vs Rensselaerville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Java has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
Cairo has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).
Rensselaerville has the oldest population (median age 54).
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 | Cairo | Rensselaerville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,641 |
2,049 |
6,700Highest |
1,901Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-0.4%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-0.9% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 48.8±5.1 23% above NY |
44.2±5.5Lowest 11% above NY |
44.2±4.2Lowest 11% above NY |
54±3.3Highest 36% above NY |
| Rensselaerville and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±5.2 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
17.9%±3.5 NY: 20.5% |
14%±2.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Java and Durham 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% |
19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
22.9%±4.2 NY: 17.9% |
30.1%±6.6Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Rensselaerville 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% NY: 40.2% |
24.6%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
28.9% NY: 40.2% |
40.1%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.2Lowest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
3.7%±1.5Highest NY: 7% |
1.3%±1.6Lowest NY: 7% |
| Cairo and Java 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 |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$79,643±$22kLowest 7% below NY |
$90,324±$26k 5% above NY |
| Java and Rensselaerville 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 |
$263,400±$18kHighest 38% below NY |
$259,800±$36k 39% below NY |
| Cairo and Rensselaerville 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 |
$1,015±$305 37% below NY |
$1,264±$152Highest 22% below NY |
| Rensselaerville and Cairo 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 |
$4,246 35% below NY |
$5,247Highest 20% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.3%±40.8 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
45.1%±16.2Highest NY: 52.1% |
14.7%±61.5 NY: 52.1% |
| Cairo and Durham 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% NY: 14% |
10.5%Highest NY: 14% |
0.8%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
75.2%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
89.9% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1973 14 yrs newer than NY |
1972 13 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min about the NY average |
27 minLowest 17% below NY |
29 min 13% below NY |
38 minHighest 16% above NY |
| Work from home | 13%±7.8 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
11.1%±6.2 NY: 14.9% |
13.8%±6.3Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Rensselaerville and Durham 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 | — | #461 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | CAIRO-DURHAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | CAIRO-DURHAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | CAIRO-DURHAM HIGH SCHOOL | — | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.9 |
— | — | — |
| 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.


