Compare towns
Durham vs Jay vs Middlesex
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 expensive homes ($245k median).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.8%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (18.2%).
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 | Jay | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,641Highest |
2,354 |
1,407Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6% NY: +4.2% |
-0.8%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-7.9%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 48.8±5.1Lowest 23% above NY |
48.8±4.6Lowest 23% above NY |
55.3±6Highest 39% above NY |
| Middlesex and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±5.2Highest NY: 20.5% |
16%±4.1Lowest NY: 20.5% |
18%±3.8 NY: 20.5% |
| Durham and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.2%±7Lowest NY: 17.9% |
25.3%±4.8Highest NY: 17.9% |
24.6%±3.1 NY: 17.9% |
| Jay and Middlesex 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% |
31.4%Highest NY: 40.2% |
21.1%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.2Lowest NY: 7% |
1.7%±1.7Highest NY: 7% |
1.3%±1.3Lowest NY: 7% |
| Jay 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 |
$72,380±$19kLowest 16% below NY |
$75,750±$21k 12% below NY |
| Durham and Middlesex 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 |
$196,900±$22kLowest 54% below NY |
$208,100±$62k 51% below NY |
| Durham and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $994±$844Lowest 39% below NY |
$1,272±$366 22% below NY |
$1,406±$672Highest 13% below NY |
| Middlesex and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,728 43% below NY |
$3,741Highest 43% below NY |
$3,459Lowest 47% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.3%±40.8Lowest NY: 52.1% |
27.4%±21.1 NY: 52.1% |
29.1%±39Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Middlesex and Jay 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% |
6.7%Highest NY: 14% |
5.8% NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92%Highest NY: 54.3% |
88.4%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
90.1% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 17 yrs newer than NY |
1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY |
1974Lowest 15 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest about the NY average |
28 min 13% below NY |
25 minLowest 22% below NY |
| Work from home | 13%±7.8 NY: 14.9% |
8.8%±3.2Lowest NY: 14.9% |
18.2%±6.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | — |
| School district | CAIRO-DURHAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | AUSABLE VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | GORHAM-MIDDLESEX CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT (MARCUS WHITMAN) |
| High school in town | CAIRO-DURHAM HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | 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.