What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wales has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).

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	Wales	Durham
People
Population	3,015Highest	2,641Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.1%Highest NY: +4.2%	-3.6%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	43.9±6.6Lowest 10% above NY	48.8±5.1Highest 23% above NY
	Durham and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	25.2%±5.8Highest NY: 20.5%	18.3%±5.2Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Wales and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.1%±5.7Lowest NY: 17.9%	24.2%±7Highest NY: 17.9%
	Durham and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.4%Lowest NY: 40.2%	28.3%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.8%±0.7Lowest NY: 7%	1.3%±1.2Highest NY: 7%
	Durham and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$88,590±$19kHighest 3% above NY	$81,471±$15kLowest 5% below NY
	Wales and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$244,800±$33kLowest 42% below NY	$245,300±$26kHighest 42% below NY
	Durham and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$950±$503Lowest 41% below NY	$994±$844Highest 39% below NY
	Durham and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,782Highest 27% below NY	$3,728Lowest 43% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	20.5%±27.8Highest NY: 52.1%	19.3%±40.8Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Wales and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.3%Highest NY: 14%	4.1%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.8%Lowest NY: 54.3%	92%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 12 yrs newer than NY	1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 25% below NY	33 minHighest about the NY average
Work from home	7.2%±3.4Lowest NY: 14.9%	13%±7.8Highest NY: 14.9%
	Durham and Wales 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	#321 of 484 in NY	#100 of 484 in NY
School district	IROQUOIS 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

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.