Compare towns
Middlesex vs Tompkins vs Seneca
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).
Tompkins has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Seneca has the highest household income ($91k).
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 | Tompkins | Seneca |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,407 |
1,187Lowest |
2,622Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.9%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+3.4%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-2.8% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 55.3±6 39% above NY |
57.6±5.8Highest 45% above NY |
44.5±6.2Lowest 12% 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% |
8.8%±1.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
19.5%±3.9Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Seneca 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% |
30.6%±4.9Highest NY: 17.9% |
22.3%±4.5Lowest 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% |
18.8%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
22.1%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.3Lowest NY: 7% |
3.9%±2Highest NY: 7% |
2.2%±1.4 NY: 7% |
| Tompkins and Seneca 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 |
$61,103±$27kLowest 29% below NY |
$90,658±$21kHighest 5% above NY |
| Seneca 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 |
$185,700±$23kLowest 56% below NY |
$192,700±$9k 55% below NY |
| Middlesex and Seneca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,406±$672 13% below NY |
$483±$80Lowest 70% below NY |
$1,549±$420Highest 4% below NY |
| Seneca and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,459Highest 47% below NY |
$2,487Lowest 62% below NY |
$2,810 57% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.1%±39Highest NY: 52.1% |
0%±73.7Lowest NY: 52.1% |
7.2%±24.9 NY: 52.1% |
| Middlesex and Seneca 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% |
8.8%Highest NY: 14% |
6.2% NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
91.1% NY: 54.3% |
91.6%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 15 yrs newer than NY |
1992Highest 33 yrs newer than NY |
1945Lowest 14 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 22% below NY |
70 minHighest 115% above NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
| Work from home | 18.2%±6.2 NY: 14.9% |
23.5%±13.3Highest NY: 14.9% |
10.9%±3.6Lowest 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 | GORHAM-MIDDLESEX CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT (MARCUS WHITMAN) | — | — |
| High school 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.