Compare towns
Middlesex vs Jay vs Tompkins
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlesex has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Tompkins has the most affordable homes ($186k median).
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 | Jay | Tompkins |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,407Highest |
471Lowest |
1,187 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.3±6 42% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5Lowest 34% above U.S. |
57.6±5.8Highest 48% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3 U.S.: 22% |
8.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.6%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.6%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 | $75,750±$21kHighest 6% below U.S. |
$74,792±$25k 7% below U.S. |
$61,103±$27kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $208,100±$62k 37% below U.S. |
$234,200±$45kHighest 30% below U.S. |
$185,700±$23kLowest 44% below U.S. |
| Jay 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 about the U.S. average |
— | $483±$80Lowest 66% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,459 11% above U.S. |
$3,588Highest 15% above U.S. |
$2,487Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.1%±39 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±73.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jay 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1992 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
40 min 50% above U.S. |
70 minHighest 166% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.2%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.5%±13.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Tompkins are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | GORHAM-MIDDLESEX CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT (MARCUS WHITMAN) | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.