The Town FilesDurham, New York
Town in Greene County · population 2,627 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $245,300
- Household income
- $81,471
- Jan low / Jul high
- 11° / 77°
- Snow a year
- 74 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 48.8
Durham is a town of 2,627 people in Greene County, New York. The median home is worth $245,300, above the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks better for a vacation home than 90% of New York towns, better for retirees than 83% of New York towns, hipper than 83% of New York towns.
How Durham ranks
Percentile among New York towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New York towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Durham is worth $245,300, above the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $81,471, which is more affordable than 45% of New York towns. Median rent is $994 a month. 92.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Durham | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $245,300 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $994 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $81,471 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 92.0% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 35.5% | — |
Who lives in Durham
| People | Durham | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.8 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.2% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 18.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.3% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.1% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 7.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.6% | — |
| Work from home | 13.0% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 33.4 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 79.2% | 91.1% |
Weather in Durham
July highs average 77.2°F and January lows 11.2°F. About 56.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 74.1 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 2 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 184 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Durham since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on July 10, 1989 about 4.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 10, 1989.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 4 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 8, 2011.
Severe weather in Greene County since 1996
Greene County has been included in 29 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 22, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3565: Hurricane Henri |
| March 20, 2020 | Biological | DR-4480: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3434: Covid-19 |
| July 12, 2017 | Snowstorm | DR-4322: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| October 30, 2012 | Hurricane | DR-4085: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Greene County
Greene County had 14,167 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $61,727 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Durham itself the ACS puts it at 3.5%.
Towns near Durham
- Greenville, NY7.2 mi · 3,741 people · home $240,900
- Cairo, NY8.7 mi · 6,644 people · home $263,400
- Westerlo, NY10.2 mi · 3,194 people · home $316,200
- Hunter, NY14.4 mi · 3,035 people · home $314,200
- Coxsackie, NY14.9 mi · 8,382 people · home $303,100
- New Baltimore, NY15.2 mi · 3,226 people · home $297,000
- Catskill, NY15.8 mi · 11,298 people · home $246,000
- Berne, NY16.0 mi · 2,689 people · home $296,300
Durham questions
Is Durham, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Durham scores better for retirees than 83% of New York towns and quieter than 79%. 24.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 48.8).
How much does a house cost in Durham?
The median owner-occupied home in Durham is valued at $245,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $81,471, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $994 a month.
What is the weather like in Durham?
July highs average 77.2°F and January lows 11.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 56.0 inches of precipitation a year and 74.1 inches of snow.
Does Durham get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Durham since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on July 10, 1989. The typical New York town has had 5.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)