Compare towns
Durham vs Middlesex 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.6%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (18.2%).
Bennington has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
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 | Middlesex | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,641 |
1,407Lowest |
3,220Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-7.9%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-3.7% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 48.8±5.1 23% above NY |
55.3±6Highest 39% above NY |
46.7±5.8Lowest 17% 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%±5.2 NY: 20.5% |
18%±3.8Lowest NY: 20.5% |
20.5%±4.9Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Bennington and Durham 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% |
24.6%±3.1Highest NY: 17.9% |
22.4%±4.5Lowest 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% |
26% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.2Lowest NY: 7% |
1.3%±1.3Lowest NY: 7% |
2.5%±1.7Highest NY: 7% |
| Bennington 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±$15k 5% below NY |
$75,750±$21kLowest 12% below NY |
$89,050±$10kHighest 4% above NY |
| Bennington and Durham 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 |
$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 |
$1,406±$672Highest 13% below NY |
$942±$344Lowest 42% 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 | $3,728 43% below NY |
$3,459Lowest 47% below NY |
$4,591Highest 30% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.3%±40.8Lowest NY: 52.1% |
29.1%±39Highest NY: 52.1% |
27.4%±29 NY: 52.1% |
| Middlesex and Bennington 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% NY: 14% |
8%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92%Highest NY: 54.3% |
90.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
90.7% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY |
1974 15 yrs newer than NY |
1969Lowest 10 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest about the NY average |
25 minLowest 22% below NY |
33 min about the NY average |
| Work from home | 13%±7.8 NY: 14.9% |
18.2%±6.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
10.5%±4.9Lowest 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 | 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.