Compare towns
Jay vs Middlesex vs Tompkins
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jay has the youngest population (median age 48.8).
Middlesex has the most kids (18% under 18).
Tompkins has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
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 | Jay | Middlesex | Tompkins |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,354Highest |
1,407 |
1,187Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.8% NY: +4.2% |
-7.9%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+3.4%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 48.8±4.6Lowest 23% above NY |
55.3±6 39% above NY |
57.6±5.8Highest 45% above NY |
| Tompkins and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16%±4.1 NY: 20.5% |
18%±3.8Highest NY: 20.5% |
8.8%±1.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Middlesex and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.3%±4.8 NY: 17.9% |
24.6%±3.1Lowest NY: 17.9% |
30.6%±4.9Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Tompkins and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.4%Highest NY: 40.2% |
21.1% NY: 40.2% |
18.8%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±1.7 NY: 7% |
1.3%±1.3Lowest NY: 7% |
3.9%±2Highest NY: 7% |
| Tompkins and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,380±$19k 16% below NY |
$75,750±$21kHighest 12% below NY |
$61,103±$27kLowest 29% below NY |
| Middlesex and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $196,900±$22k 54% below NY |
$208,100±$62kHighest 51% below NY |
$185,700±$23kLowest 56% below NY |
| Middlesex and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,272±$366 22% below NY |
$1,406±$672Highest 13% below NY |
$483±$80Lowest 70% below NY |
| Middlesex and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,741Highest 43% below NY |
$3,459 47% below NY |
$2,487Lowest 62% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.4%±21.1 NY: 52.1% |
29.1%±39Highest NY: 52.1% |
0%±73.7Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Middlesex and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.7% NY: 14% |
5.8%Lowest NY: 14% |
8.8%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.4%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
90.1% NY: 54.3% |
91.1%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 18 yrs newer than NY |
1974Lowest 15 yrs newer than NY |
1992Highest 33 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 13% below NY |
25 minLowest 22% below NY |
70 minHighest 115% above NY |
| Work from home | 8.8%±3.2Lowest NY: 14.9% |
18.2%±6.2 NY: 14.9% |
23.5%±13.3Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Tompkins and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | AUSABLE VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | GORHAM-MIDDLESEX CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT (MARCUS WHITMAN) | — |
| 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.