Compare towns

Middlesex vs Williamson 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).
Williamson has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
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.

MeasureMiddlesexWilliamsonTompkins
People
Population
1,407
6,823Highest
1,187Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-7.9%Lowest
NY: +4.2%
-1.8%
NY: +4.2%
+3.4%Highest
NY: +4.2%
Median age
55.3±6
39% above NY
40.9±4.2Lowest
about the NY average
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%
19.6%±3.3Highest
NY: 20.5%
8.8%±1.9Lowest
NY: 20.5%
Williamson 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%
20.7%±4.5Lowest
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%
34.2%Highest
NY: 40.2%
18.8%Lowest
NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.3%±1.3Lowest
NY: 7%
4.5%±2Highest
NY: 7%
3.9%±2
NY: 7%
Williamson 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
$90,515±$14kHighest
5% above NY
$61,103±$27kLowest
29% below NY
Williamson 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
$192,700±$18k
55% below NY
$185,700±$23kLowest
56% below NY
Middlesex and Williamson 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
$659±$304
59% below NY
$483±$80Lowest
70% below NY
Middlesex and Williamson 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
$5,172Highest
21% below NY
$2,487Lowest
62% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
29.1%±39Highest
NY: 52.1%
25.1%±12.5
NY: 52.1%
0%±73.7Lowest
NY: 52.1%
Middlesex and Williamson 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%
9%Highest
NY: 14%
8.8%
NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.1%
NY: 54.3%
86.9%Lowest
NY: 54.3%
91.1%Highest
NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974
15 yrs newer than NY
1965Lowest
6 yrs newer than NY
1992Highest
33 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
22% below NY
25 minLowest
25% below NY
70 minHighest
115% above NY
Work from home
18.2%±6.2
NY: 14.9%
16.2%±6.5Lowest
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 — #221 of 484 in NY —
School district GORHAM-MIDDLESEX CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT (MARCUS WHITMAN) WILLIAMSON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT —
High school in town None in town WILLIAMSON SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL —
Students per teacherat that high school —
8.3
—
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.