Compare towns
Ithaca vs Lansing vs Enfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ithaca has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.8%).
Lansing has the most renters (76.6% rent).
Enfield has the most kids (26.3% under 18).
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 | Ithaca | Lansing | Enfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,968Highest |
3,876 |
3,310Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.8%Highest NY: +4.2% |
+3.4% NY: +4.2% |
-4.3%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 29.3±2.1 26% below NY |
27.7±5.8Lowest 30% below NY |
42.3±9.4Highest 6% above NY |
| Kids under 18 | 13%±1.7Lowest NY: 20.5% |
14.1%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
26.3%±6.8Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.1 NY: 17.9% |
8.3%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
21.9%±4.9Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Enfield and Ithaca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.3% NY: 40.2% |
80.4%Highest NY: 40.2% |
42.9%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 33.2%±2.1Highest NY: 7% |
8.3%±4.4 NY: 7% |
4.3%±2.3Lowest NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $105,978±$18kHighest 23% above NY |
$72,364±$14kLowest 16% below NY |
$94,750±$27k 10% above NY |
| Ithaca and Enfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $368,700±$13k 13% below NY |
$516,900±$84kHighest 22% above NY |
$224,000±$26kLowest 47% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,558±$122 4% below NY |
$1,726±$44Highest 6% above NY |
$1,301±$198Lowest 20% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,273 26% above NY |
$10,000Highest 52% above NY |
$4,723Lowest 28% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±9 NY: 52.1% |
64.4%±27.8Highest NY: 52.1% |
54%±24Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Lansing and Ithaca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.3%Lowest NY: 14% |
23.6%Highest NY: 14% |
14.3% NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62% NY: 54.3% |
23.4%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
79.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 16 yrs newer than NY |
1982 23 yrs newer than NY |
1986Highest 27 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 49% below NY |
16 minLowest 52% below NY |
31 minHighest 5% below NY |
| Work from home | 25.2%±4.1Highest NY: 14.9% |
16%±7.5 NY: 14.9% |
15.2%±6.9Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Ithaca and Lansing 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 | — | #483 of 484 in NY |
| School district | ITHACA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | ITHACA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.