Compare towns
Harrison vs Ithaca vs Mount Pleasant
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Harrison has the most expensive homes ($1011k median).
Ithaca has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.8%).
Mount Pleasant has the most homeowners (70.5%).
Ithaca is a college town. 33.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Harrison | Ithaca | Mount Pleasant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 29,961 |
20,968Lowest |
44,769Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.7% NY: +4.2% |
+11.8%Highest NY: +4.2% |
+1.6%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 37.2±2.1 7% below NY |
29.3±2.1Lowest 26% below NY |
41±1.3Highest 3% above NY |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.4Highest NY: 20.5% |
13%±1.7Lowest NY: 20.5% |
21.4%±1.8 NY: 20.5% |
| Harrison and Mount Pleasant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.1Highest NY: 17.9% |
17.3%±1.3 NY: 17.9% |
| Ithaca and Mount Pleasant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.4% NY: 40.2% |
75.3%Highest NY: 40.2% |
57.1%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.5%±1.5 NY: 7% |
33.2%±2.1Highest NY: 7% |
9.3%±1.2Lowest NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $164,250±$17kHighest 91% above NY |
$105,978±$18kLowest 23% above NY |
$142,857±$11k 66% above NY |
| Harrison and Mount Pleasant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,010,700±$108kHighest 138% above NY |
$368,700±$13kLowest 13% below NY |
$788,900±$25k 86% above NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,616±$155Highest 61% above NY |
$1,558±$122Lowest 4% below NY |
$1,941±$146 20% above NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 52% above NY |
$8,273Lowest 26% above NY |
$10,000+Highest at least 52% above NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.7%±8.9Lowest NY: 52.1% |
59%±9 NY: 52.1% |
59.1%±5.6Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Mount Pleasant and Ithaca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.1%Lowest NY: 14% |
9.3%Highest NY: 14% |
7% NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.5%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
62% NY: 54.3% |
70.5%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 3 yrs newer than NY |
1975Highest 16 yrs newer than NY |
1957Lowest 2 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% below NY |
17 minLowest 49% below NY |
31 minHighest 5% below NY |
| Work from home | 22.7%±2.8 NY: 14.9% |
25.2%±4.1Highest NY: 14.9% |
21.2%±1.9Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Ithaca and Harrison 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 | — | #182 of 484 in NY | #85 of 484 in NY |
| School district | — | ITHACA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | BRIARCLIFF MANOR UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT · MOUNT PLEASANT-COTTAGE UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | None in town | SLEEPY HOLLOW HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.4 |
| 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.