Compare towns
Greig vs Tompkins vs Watson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Greig has the most renters (11.5% rent).
Tompkins has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Watson has the youngest population (median age 43.7).
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 | Greig | Tompkins | Watson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,004Lowest |
1,187 |
1,976Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7% NY: +4.2% |
+3.4%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.2%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 55±6.1 38% above NY |
57.6±5.8Highest 45% above NY |
43.7±5.4Lowest 10% above NY |
| Tompkins and Greig are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±3.9 NY: 20.5% |
8.8%±1.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
19.1%±3.2Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Watson and Greig are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.3%±3.9 NY: 17.9% |
30.6%±4.9Highest NY: 17.9% |
20.1%±3.2Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Tompkins and Greig are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.4%Highest NY: 40.2% |
18.8%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
19.8% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.2Lowest NY: 7% |
3.9%±2Highest NY: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 NY: 7% |
| Tompkins and Watson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $58,000±$20kLowest 33% below NY |
$61,103±$27k 29% below NY |
$68,864±$12kHighest 20% below NY |
| Watson and Tompkins are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $172,700±$21k 59% below NY |
$185,700±$23kHighest 56% below NY |
$161,300±$18kLowest 62% below NY |
| Tompkins and Greig are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $936±$33Highest 42% below NY |
$483±$80Lowest 70% below NY |
$912±$194 44% below NY |
| Greig and Watson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,720Highest 59% below NY |
$2,487Lowest 62% below NY |
$2,510 62% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 71%±29.7Highest NY: 52.1% |
0%±73.7Lowest NY: 52.1% |
38.5%±40.6 NY: 52.1% |
| Greig and Watson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.8%Highest NY: 14% |
8.8% NY: 14% |
8.6%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
91.1% NY: 54.3% |
93.5%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 13 yrs newer than NY |
1992Highest 33 yrs newer than NY |
1981 22 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 9% above NY |
70 minHighest 115% above NY |
33 minLowest about the NY average |
| Work from home | 10.2%±6 NY: 14.9% |
23.5%±13.3Highest NY: 14.9% |
4.8%±2.9Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Tompkins and Greig are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| 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.