Compare towns

Durham vs Java vs Wales

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 most affordable homes ($224k median).
Wales has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).

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.

MeasureDurhamJavaWales
People
Population
2,641
2,049Lowest
3,015Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.6%
NY: +4.2%
-4.1%Lowest
NY: +4.2%
+0.1%Highest
NY: +4.2%
Median age
48.8±5.1Highest
23% above NY
44.2±5.5
11% above NY
43.9±6.6Lowest
10% above NY
Durham and Java 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%
25.2%±5.8Highest
NY: 20.5%
Wales 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%
22.1%±5.7
NY: 17.9%
Durham and Wales 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%
25.4%
NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.3%±1.2
NY: 7%
3%±2.4Highest
NY: 7%
0.8%±0.7Lowest
NY: 7%
Java 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±$15kLowest
5% below NY
$95,129±$24kHighest
11% above NY
$88,590±$19k
3% above NY
Java and Wales 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
$223,900±$30kLowest
47% below NY
$244,800±$33k
42% below NY
Durham and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$994±$844Highest
39% below NY
$863±$419Lowest
47% below NY
$950±$503
41% below NY
Durham and Wales 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
$4,782Highest
27% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
19.3%±40.8
NY: 52.1%
2.5%±61.4Lowest
NY: 52.1%
20.5%±27.8Highest
NY: 52.1%
Wales 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%Lowest
NY: 14%
4.3%Highest
NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92%
NY: 54.3%
95.2%Highest
NY: 54.3%
88.8%Lowest
NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Highest
17 yrs newer than NY
1956Lowest
3 yrs older than NY
1971
12 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
about the NY average
27 min
17% below NY
25 minLowest
25% below NY
Work from home
13%±7.8Highest
NY: 14.9%
9%±4.4
NY: 14.9%
7.2%±3.4Lowest
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 — #321 of 484 in NY
School district CAIRO-DURHAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT — IROQUOIS 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

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.