Compare towns
Middlesex vs Corning 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 most expensive homes ($208k median).
Corning has the most kids (24.8% 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 | Middlesex | Corning | Tompkins |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,407 |
5,829Highest |
1,187Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.9%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-4.6% NY: +4.2% |
+3.4%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 55.3±6 39% above NY |
41.6±3.6Lowest 5% 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%±3.8 NY: 20.5% |
24.8%±4Highest NY: 20.5% |
8.8%±1.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Corning and Middlesex 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% |
22.1%±3.6Lowest 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% |
38%Highest NY: 40.2% |
18.8%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.3Lowest NY: 7% |
4.7%±1.2Highest NY: 7% |
3.9%±2 NY: 7% |
| Corning and Tompkins 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 |
$88,482±$10kHighest about the NY average |
$61,103±$27kLowest 29% below NY |
| Corning 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±$62kHighest 51% below NY |
$167,600±$14kLowest 60% below NY |
$185,700±$23k 56% below NY |
| Middlesex and Tompkins 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 |
$1,289±$219 20% below NY |
$483±$80Lowest 70% below NY |
| Middlesex and Corning 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 |
$3,895Highest 41% below NY |
$2,487Lowest 62% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.1%±39 NY: 52.1% |
39.1%±15Highest NY: 52.1% |
0%±73.7Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Corning 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% |
8.2% NY: 14% |
8.8%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1% NY: 54.3% |
86%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
91.1%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 15 yrs newer than NY |
1960Lowest 1 yr newer than NY |
1992Highest 33 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 22% below NY |
20 minLowest 38% below NY |
70 minHighest 115% above NY |
| Work from home | 18.2%±6.2 NY: 14.9% |
8.3%±3.1Lowest 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 | — | #393 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | GORHAM-MIDDLESEX CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT (MARCUS WHITMAN) | CORNING CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | None in town | CORNING PAINTED POST HIGH SCHOOL LEARNING CENTER | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 4.0 |
— |
| 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.