Compare towns
Jay vs Peru vs Durham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jay has the most affordable homes ($197k median).
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
Durham has the most kids (18.3% 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 | Jay | Peru | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,354 |
434Lowest |
2,641Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.8±4.6Highest 25% above U.S. |
45.3±8.6Lowest 16% above U.S. |
48.8±5.1Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Durham and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.3%±4.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.2%±7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jay and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Peru 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 10% below U.S. |
$151,875±$83kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$81,471±$15k about the U.S. average |
| Peru 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 41% below U.S. |
$400,000±$105kHighest 20% above U.S. |
$245,300±$26k 26% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,272±$366Highest 10% below U.S. |
$1,271±$820 10% below U.S. |
$994±$844Lowest 30% below U.S. |
| Jay and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,741 20% above U.S. |
$5,000Highest 60% above U.S. |
$3,728Lowest 20% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.4%±21.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
29%±47.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
19.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Peru and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±16.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Peru 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 | AUSABLE VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | CAIRO-DURHAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school 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 |
U.S. 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.