What stands out worked out from the figures below

Durham has the most expensive homes ($614k median).

Highland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).

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	Highland
People
Population	1,047Highest	852Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.4%Lowest PA: +2.4%	+5.7%Highest PA: +2.4%
Median age	58±3.4Highest 42% above PA	55.9±4.5Lowest 37% above PA
	Durham and Highland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.9%±2.7Lowest PA: 20.4%	14.3%±4.6Highest PA: 20.4%
	Highland and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	30%±1.3Highest PA: 19.5%	24.2%±3.7Lowest PA: 19.5%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	47.2%Highest PA: 35.2%	35.3%Lowest PA: 35.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.7%±0.9Lowest PA: 6.1%	3.4%±2.3Highest PA: 6.1%
	Highland and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$116,458±$27kHighest 49% above PA	$108,958±$16kLowest 40% above PA
	Durham and Highland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$614,100±$53kHighest 141% above PA	$359,100±$43kLowest 41% above PA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,219±$205 about the PA average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,086Highest 84% above PA	$3,471Lowest 5% above PA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.1%±56.3Highest PA: 48.2%	31.8%±74.3Lowest PA: 48.2%
	Durham and Highland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.9%Highest PA: 11.7%	3.5%Lowest PA: 11.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.3%Highest PA: 69.3%	88.5%Lowest PA: 69.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1957Lowest 8 yrs older than PA	1979Highest 14 yrs newer than PA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 40% above PA	29 minLowest 9% above PA
Work from home	26.6%±8.3Highest PA: 15.6%	16.1%±3.8Lowest PA: 15.6%
	Durham and Highland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

PA 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.