Compare towns
Middlesex vs Cairo 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
Middlesex has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Cairo has the most expensive homes ($263k median).
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 | Middlesex | Cairo | Tompkins |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,407 |
6,700Highest |
1,187Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.9%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-0.4% NY: +4.2% |
+3.4%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 55.3±6 39% above NY |
44.2±4.2Lowest 11% 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 | 18%±3.8Highest NY: 20.5% |
17.9%±3.5 NY: 20.5% |
8.8%±1.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Middlesex and Cairo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.6%±3.1 NY: 17.9% |
22.9%±4.2Lowest NY: 17.9% |
30.6%±4.9Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Tompkins and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.1% NY: 40.2% |
28.9%Highest NY: 40.2% |
18.8%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.3Lowest NY: 7% |
3.7%±1.5 NY: 7% |
3.9%±2Highest NY: 7% |
| Tompkins and Cairo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,750±$21k 12% below NY |
$79,643±$22kHighest 7% below NY |
$61,103±$27kLowest 29% below NY |
| Cairo and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $208,100±$62k 51% below NY |
$263,400±$18kHighest 38% below NY |
$185,700±$23kLowest 56% below NY |
| Cairo and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,406±$672Highest 13% below NY |
$1,015±$305 37% below NY |
$483±$80Lowest 70% below NY |
| Middlesex and Cairo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,459 47% below NY |
$4,246Highest 35% below NY |
$2,487Lowest 62% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.1%±39 NY: 52.1% |
45.1%±16.2Highest NY: 52.1% |
0%±73.7Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Cairo and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.8%Lowest NY: 14% |
10.5%Highest NY: 14% |
8.8% NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1% NY: 54.3% |
75.2%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
91.1%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 15 yrs newer than NY |
1973Lowest 14 yrs newer than NY |
1992Highest 33 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 22% below NY |
29 min 13% below NY |
70 minHighest 115% above NY |
| Work from home | 18.2%±6.2 NY: 14.9% |
11.1%±6.2Lowest 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 | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #461 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | GORHAM-MIDDLESEX CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT (MARCUS WHITMAN) | CAIRO-DURHAM CENTRAL 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.