Compare towns
Middlesex vs Troy 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1974).
Troy has the youngest population (median age 44.5).
Tompkins has the most people working from home (23.5%).
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 | Troy | Tompkins |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,407 |
1,749Highest |
1,187Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.3±6 42% above U.S. |
44.5±5.7Lowest 14% 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%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
8.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Troy 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
18.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Tompkins and Troy 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 6% below U.S. |
$87,938±$11kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$61,103±$27kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Troy 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 37% below U.S. |
$233,200±$21kHighest 30% below U.S. |
$185,700±$23kLowest 44% below U.S. |
| Troy 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 |
$646±$323 54% below U.S. |
$483±$80Lowest 66% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,459 11% above U.S. |
$3,644Highest 17% above U.S. |
$2,487Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.1%±39 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.8%±26.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±73.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Troy 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% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 4% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
70 minHighest 166% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.2%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.5%±13.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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) | Troy 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.