Compare towns
Middlesex vs Wells 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).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
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 | Wells | Tompkins |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,407Highest |
1,148Lowest |
1,187 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.3±6 42% above U.S. |
50.7±5.2Lowest 30% 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% |
15.1%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
8.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Wells 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% |
24.5%±2.2Lowest 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% |
29.7%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% |
3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Tompkins and Wells 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. |
$75,417±$11k 7% below U.S. |
$61,103±$27kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Wells 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. |
$243,000±$42kHighest 27% below U.S. |
$185,700±$23kLowest 44% below U.S. |
| Wells 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 |
$1,313±$282 7% below U.S. |
$483±$80Lowest 66% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,459Highest 11% above U.S. |
$3,308 6% above U.S. |
$2,487Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.1%±39 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.5%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±73.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wells 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% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
48 min 80% above U.S. |
70 minHighest 166% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.2%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest 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) | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | — |
| 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.