What stands out worked out from the figures below

Providence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).

Durham has the most people working from home (13%).

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	Providence	Durham
People
Population	1,971Lowest	2,641Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4%Highest NY: +4.2%	-3.6%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	48.9±5.2Highest 23% above NY	48.8±5.1Lowest 23% above NY
	Providence and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.7%±3.4Lowest NY: 20.5%	18.3%±5.2Highest NY: 20.5%
	Durham and Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18%±3.2Lowest NY: 17.9%	24.2%±7Highest NY: 17.9%
	Durham and Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.9%Highest NY: 40.2%	28.3%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.8%±2.9Highest NY: 7%	1.3%±1.2Lowest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$92,574±$16kHighest 8% above NY	$81,471±$15kLowest 5% below NY
	Providence and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$270,500±$25kHighest 36% below NY	$245,300±$26kLowest 42% below NY
	Providence and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,449±$383Highest 11% below NY	$994±$844Lowest 39% below NY
	Providence and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,275Lowest 50% below NY	$3,728Highest 43% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.9%±50.8Highest NY: 52.1%	19.3%±40.8Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Providence and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.1%Highest NY: 14%	4.1%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.7%Highest NY: 54.3%	92%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1993Highest 34 yrs newer than NY	1976Lowest 17 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minLowest about the NY average	33 minHighest about the NY average
Work from home	5.7%±2.7Lowest NY: 14.9%	13%±7.8Highest NY: 14.9%
	Durham and Providence 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	—	CAIRO-DURHAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	—	CAIRO-DURHAM HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	7.9
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.