What stands out worked out from the figures below

Durham has the most affordable homes ($245k median).

Lysander has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Durham	Lysander
People
Population	2,641Lowest	23,086Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.6%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+6%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	48.8±5.1Highest 23% above NY	43.6±1.9Lowest 10% above NY
	Durham and Lysander 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%	24.4%±2.9Highest NY: 20.5%
	Lysander 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%	17.6%±1.9Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Durham and Lysander are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.3%Lowest NY: 40.2%	47.6%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.3%±1.2Lowest NY: 7%	3.6%±0.9Highest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$81,471±$15kLowest 5% below NY	$107,984±$5kHighest 26% above NY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$245,300±$26kLowest 42% below NY	$288,400±$18kHighest 32% below NY
	Lysander and Durham 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	$1,130±$100Highest 30% below NY
	Lysander 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	$6,748Highest about the NY average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	19.3%±40.8Lowest NY: 52.1%	54.5%±10.5Highest NY: 52.1%
	Lysander and Durham 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%	5.8%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92%Highest NY: 54.3%	81.5%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 17 yrs newer than NY	1985Highest 26 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest about the NY average	24 minLowest 26% below NY
Work from home	13%±7.8Lowest NY: 14.9%	16.6%±3.1Highest NY: 14.9%
	Lysander 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	#158 of 484 in NY
School district	CAIRO-DURHAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	BALDWINSVILLE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	CAIRO-DURHAM HIGH SCHOOL	CHARLES W BAKER HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	7.9Lowest	15.4Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.