Compare towns
Durham vs Jay vs Peru vs Bennington
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%).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.8%).
Peru has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Bennington has the oldest housing (typical home built 1969).
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 | Peru | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,641 |
2,354Lowest |
6,710Highest |
3,220 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6% NY: +4.2% |
-0.8%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-3.2% NY: +4.2% |
-3.7%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 48.8±5.1Highest 23% above NY |
48.8±4.6Highest 23% above NY |
40.7±3.6Lowest about the NY average |
46.7±5.8 17% above NY |
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±5.2 NY: 20.5% |
16%±4.1Lowest NY: 20.5% |
21.8%±3.4Highest NY: 20.5% |
20.5%±4.9 NY: 20.5% |
| Peru and Bennington 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% |
25.3%±4.8Highest NY: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
22.4%±4.5 NY: 17.9% |
| Jay 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% |
31.4% NY: 40.2% |
33.2%Highest NY: 40.2% |
26%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.2Lowest NY: 7% |
1.7%±1.7 NY: 7% |
6.3%±5.4Highest NY: 7% |
2.5%±1.7 NY: 7% |
| Peru and Bennington 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 |
$72,380±$19kLowest 16% below NY |
$101,771±$22kHighest 18% above NY |
$89,050±$10k 4% above NY |
| Peru 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±$26kHighest 42% below NY |
$196,900±$22kLowest 54% below NY |
$203,200±$38k 52% below NY |
$244,400±$24k 42% below NY |
| Durham and Bennington 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 |
$1,272±$366Highest 22% below NY |
$1,067±$173 34% below NY |
$942±$344Lowest 42% below NY |
| Jay and Peru 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 |
$3,741 43% below NY |
$4,357 34% below NY |
$4,591Highest 30% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.3%±40.8Lowest NY: 52.1% |
27.4%±21.1 NY: 52.1% |
54.8%±25.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
27.4%±29 NY: 52.1% |
| Peru 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% NY: 14% |
8.9%Highest NY: 14% |
8% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92%Highest NY: 54.3% |
88.4% NY: 54.3% |
82.7%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
90.7% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 17 yrs newer than NY |
1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY |
1976 17 yrs newer than NY |
1969Lowest 10 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest about the NY average |
28 min 13% below NY |
21 minLowest 37% below NY |
33 min about the NY average |
| Work from home | 13%±7.8Highest NY: 14.9% |
8.8%±3.2Lowest NY: 14.9% |
10.2%±4.7 NY: 14.9% |
10.5%±4.9 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 | — | #347 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | CAIRO-DURHAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | AUSABLE VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | PERU CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | CAIRO-DURHAM HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | PERU HIGH SCHOOL | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.9Lowest |
— | 11.7Highest |
— |
| 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.