Compare towns
Jay vs Erwin vs Durham vs Forestport
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jay has the most affordable homes ($197k median).
Erwin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.7%).
Durham has the most expensive homes ($245k median).
Forestport has the most people working from home (15%).
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 | Jay | Erwin | Durham | Forestport |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,354 |
7,965Highest |
2,641 |
1,693Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.8% NY: +4.2% |
+0.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-3.6% NY: +4.2% |
-3.8%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 48.8±4.6 23% above NY |
43.8±2Lowest 10% above NY |
48.8±5.1 23% above NY |
49±10.4Highest 23% above NY |
| Forestport and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16%±4.1Lowest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±3.7 NY: 20.5% |
18.3%±5.2 NY: 20.5% |
22.7%±4.8Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Forestport and Erwin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.3%±4.8 NY: 17.9% |
17.4%±2.8Lowest NY: 17.9% |
24.2%±7 NY: 17.9% |
27.7%±2.6Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Forestport and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.4% NY: 40.2% |
49.2%Highest NY: 40.2% |
28.3%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
32.8% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±1.7 NY: 7% |
4.3%±1.9Highest NY: 7% |
1.3%±1.2 NY: 7% |
0.4%±1Lowest NY: 7% |
| Erwin and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,380±$19kLowest 16% below NY |
$88,333±$16kHighest about the NY average |
$81,471±$15k 5% below NY |
$72,813±$17k 15% below NY |
| Erwin and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $196,900±$22kLowest 54% below NY |
$223,700±$26k 47% below NY |
$245,300±$26kHighest 42% below NY |
$218,700±$28k 48% below NY |
| Durham and Erwin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,272±$366Highest 22% below NY |
$1,271±$136 22% below NY |
$994±$844 39% below NY |
$621±$85Lowest 62% below NY |
| Jay and Erwin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,741 43% below NY |
$5,829Highest 11% below NY |
$3,728 43% below NY |
$2,435Lowest 63% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.4%±21.1 NY: 52.1% |
56.8%±14Highest NY: 52.1% |
19.3%±40.8 NY: 52.1% |
19.2%±41.5Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Erwin and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.7% NY: 14% |
9.3%Highest NY: 14% |
4.1%Lowest NY: 14% |
4.7% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.4% NY: 54.3% |
67.2%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
92% NY: 54.3% |
92.4%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY |
1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY |
1976 17 yrs newer than NY |
1970Lowest 11 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 13% below NY |
15 minLowest 54% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
31 min 6% below NY |
| Work from home | 8.8%±3.2Lowest NY: 14.9% |
9.5%±4.3 NY: 14.9% |
13%±7.8 NY: 14.9% |
15%±8.1Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Forestport 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 | — | #431 of 484 in NY | #100 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | AUSABLE VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | CORNING CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | CAIRO-DURHAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | CAIRO-DURHAM HIGH SCHOOL | — |
| 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.