What stands out worked out from the figures below

Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.6%).

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.

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

Measure	Durham	Middlesex
People
Population	2,641Highest	1,407Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.6%Highest NY: +4.2%	-7.9%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	48.8±5.1Lowest 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%	18%±3.8Lowest 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%	24.6%±3.1Highest NY: 17.9%
	Middlesex 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%Highest NY: 40.2%	21.1%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.3%±1.2 NY: 7%	1.3%±1.3 NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$81,471±$15kHighest 5% below NY	$75,750±$21kLowest 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	$208,100±$62kLowest 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	$1,406±$672Highest 13% below NY
	Middlesex and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,728Highest 43% below NY	$3,459Lowest 47% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	19.3%±40.8Lowest NY: 52.1%	29.1%±39Highest NY: 52.1%
	Middlesex 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%	90.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY	1974Lowest 15 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest about the NY average	25 minLowest 22% below NY
Work from home	13%±7.8Lowest 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	GORHAM-MIDDLESEX CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT (MARCUS WHITMAN)
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

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.