Compare towns
Durham vs Middlesex vs Windham vs Providence
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 kids (18.3% under 18).
Middlesex has the most affordable homes ($208k median).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($316k median).
Providence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
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 | Windham | Providence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,641Highest |
1,407Lowest |
1,432 |
1,971 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6% NY: +4.2% |
-7.9%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+0.3% NY: +4.2% |
+4%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 48.8±5.1Lowest 23% above NY |
55.3±6 39% above NY |
56.5±5.1Highest 42% above NY |
48.9±5.2 23% above NY |
| Windham and Middlesex 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%±3.8 NY: 20.5% |
11.1%±4.4Lowest NY: 20.5% |
15.7%±3.4 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%±7 NY: 17.9% |
24.6%±3.1 NY: 17.9% |
31.4%±5.2Highest NY: 17.9% |
18%±3.2Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Windham 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% |
21.1%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
43.8%Highest NY: 40.2% |
28.9% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.2Lowest NY: 7% |
1.3%±1.3Lowest NY: 7% |
6.6%±5 NY: 7% |
6.8%±2.9Highest NY: 7% |
| Providence and Windham 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 |
$76,477±$17k 11% below NY |
$92,574±$16kHighest 8% above NY |
| Providence 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±$26k 42% below NY |
$208,100±$62kLowest 51% below NY |
$315,600±$74kHighest 26% below NY |
$270,500±$25k 36% below NY |
| Windham and Providence 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±$672 13% below NY |
$850±$295Lowest 48% below NY |
$1,449±$383Highest 11% below NY |
| Providence and Middlesex 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 |
$3,459 47% below NY |
$3,363 49% below NY |
$3,275Lowest 50% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.3%±40.8Lowest NY: 52.1% |
29.1%±39 NY: 52.1% |
68.9%±35.7Highest NY: 52.1% |
27.9%±50.8 NY: 52.1% |
| Windham and Middlesex 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% |
7.4% NY: 14% |
11.1%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92% NY: 54.3% |
90.1% NY: 54.3% |
89%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
94.7%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 17 yrs newer than NY |
1974Lowest 15 yrs newer than NY |
1985 26 yrs newer than NY |
1993Highest 34 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest about the NY average |
25 minLowest 22% below NY |
27 min 18% below NY |
32 min about the NY average |
| Work from home | 13%±7.8 NY: 14.9% |
18.2%±6.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
17.1%±6.9 NY: 14.9% |
5.7%±2.7Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Middlesex and Windham 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 | 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.