What stands out worked out from the figures below

Jay has the most kids (16% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Jay	Tompkins
People
Population	2,354Highest	1,187Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.8%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+3.4%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	48.8±4.6Lowest 23% above NY	57.6±5.8Highest 45% above NY
	Tompkins and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16%±4.1Highest NY: 20.5%	8.8%±1.9Lowest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	25.3%±4.8Lowest 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%	18.8%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.7%±1.7Lowest 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±$19kHighest 16% below NY	$61,103±$27kLowest 29% below NY
	Jay and Tompkins are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$196,900±$22kHighest 54% below NY	$185,700±$23kLowest 56% below NY
	Jay and Tompkins are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,272±$366Highest 22% below NY	$483±$80Lowest 70% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,741Highest 43% below NY	$2,487Lowest 62% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.4%±21.1Highest NY: 52.1%	0%±73.7Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Jay and Tompkins are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.7%Lowest NY: 14%	8.8%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.4%Lowest NY: 54.3%	91.1%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 18 yrs newer than NY	1992Highest 33 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 13% below NY	70 minHighest 115% above NY
Work from home	8.8%±3.2Lowest NY: 14.9%	23.5%±13.3Highest NY: 14.9%
	Tompkins and Jay 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	—
High school in town	None in town	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.