What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Pomfret has the shortest commute (18 min average).

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	Pomfret
People
Population	2,641Lowest	12,795Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.6%Highest NY: +4.2%	-12.9%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	48.8±5.1Highest 23% above NY	37.5±4Lowest 6% below NY
Kids under 18	18.3%±5.2Highest NY: 20.5%	14.1%±2.4Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Durham and Pomfret 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%	21.6%±3.3Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Durham and Pomfret 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%	41.4%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.3%±1.2Lowest NY: 7%	22.5%±3Highest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$81,471±$15kHighest 5% below NY	$57,746±$10kLowest 33% below NY
	Durham and Pomfret 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	$185,400±$19kLowest 56% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$994±$844Highest 39% below NY	$866±$43Lowest 47% below NY
	Durham and Pomfret 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	$4,459Highest 32% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	19.3%±40.8Lowest NY: 52.1%	60.1%±10.4Highest NY: 52.1%
	Pomfret 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%	22.6%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92%Highest NY: 54.3%	63.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY	1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest about the NY average	18 minLowest 45% below NY
Work from home	13%±7.8Highest NY: 14.9%	11.8%±4Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Durham and Pomfret 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	#211 of 484 in NY
School district	CAIRO-DURHAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	FREDONIA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	CAIRO-DURHAM HIGH SCHOOL	FREDONIA HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	7.9Lowest	10.0Highest
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.