Compare towns

Durham vs Java vs West Monroe

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 kids (20.7% under 18).
West Monroe has the most affordable homes ($185k 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.

MeasureDurhamJavaWest Monroe
People
Population
2,641
2,049Lowest
4,060Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.6%Highest
NY: +4.2%
-4.1%Lowest
NY: +4.2%
-3.9%
NY: +4.2%
Median age
48.8±5.1Highest
23% above NY
44.2±5.5Lowest
11% above NY
46.3±4.6
16% above NY
Durham and West Monroe 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%
16%±3.9Lowest
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%±7Highest
NY: 17.9%
19.5%±3.6
NY: 17.9%
17.8%±3.8Lowest
NY: 17.9%
Durham and Java 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%
25.9%
NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.3%±1.2Lowest
NY: 7%
3%±2.4Highest
NY: 7%
2.1%±1
NY: 7%
Java and West Monroe 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
$90,558±$11k
5% above NY
Java and West Monroe 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±$30k
47% below NY
$185,100±$19kLowest
56% 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
$863±$419Lowest
47% below NY
$1,051±$342Highest
35% below NY
West Monroe 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
$4,333Highest
34% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
19.3%±40.8
NY: 52.1%
2.5%±61.4Lowest
NY: 52.1%
38.1%±13.1Highest
NY: 52.1%
West Monroe 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%
5.9%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
1976
17 yrs newer than NY
1956Lowest
3 yrs older than NY
1984Highest
25 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
about the NY average
27 min
17% below NY
26 minLowest
22% below NY
Work from home
13%±7.8Highest
NY: 14.9%
9%±4.4
NY: 14.9%
8.1%±3.1Lowest
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 — —
High school in town CAIRO-DURHAM HIGH SCHOOL — —
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.