Compare towns
Jay vs Tompkins vs Durham
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 shortest commute (28 min average).
Tompkins has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Durham has the most expensive homes ($245k median).
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 | Tompkins | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,354 |
1,187Lowest |
2,641Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.8% NY: +4.2% |
+3.4%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-3.6%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 48.8±4.6Lowest 23% above NY |
57.6±5.8Highest 45% above NY |
48.8±5.1Lowest 23% above NY |
| Tompkins and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16%±4.1 NY: 20.5% |
8.8%±1.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
18.3%±5.2Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Durham and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.3%±4.8 NY: 17.9% |
30.6%±4.9Highest NY: 17.9% |
24.2%±7Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Tompkins 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%Highest NY: 40.2% |
18.8%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
28.3% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±1.7 NY: 7% |
3.9%±2Highest NY: 7% |
1.3%±1.2Lowest NY: 7% |
| Tompkins 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±$19k 16% below NY |
$61,103±$27kLowest 29% below NY |
$81,471±$15kHighest 5% below NY |
| Durham and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $196,900±$22k 54% below NY |
$185,700±$23kLowest 56% below NY |
$245,300±$26kHighest 42% below NY |
| Durham and Jay 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 |
$483±$80Lowest 70% below NY |
$994±$844 39% below NY |
| Jay and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,741Highest 43% below NY |
$2,487Lowest 62% below NY |
$3,728 43% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.4%±21.1Highest NY: 52.1% |
0%±73.7Lowest NY: 52.1% |
19.3%±40.8 NY: 52.1% |
| Jay and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.7% NY: 14% |
8.8%Highest NY: 14% |
4.1%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.4%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
91.1% NY: 54.3% |
92%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 18 yrs newer than NY |
1992Highest 33 yrs newer than NY |
1976Lowest 17 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 13% below NY |
70 minHighest 115% above NY |
33 min about the NY average |
| Work from home | 8.8%±3.2Lowest NY: 14.9% |
23.5%±13.3Highest NY: 14.9% |
13%±7.8 NY: 14.9% |
| Tompkins 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 |
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.