Compare towns
Tompkins vs Berlin vs Dunkirk
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Tompkins has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Berlin has the most kids (16.6% under 18).
Dunkirk has the shortest commute (14 min average).
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 | Tompkins | Berlin | Dunkirk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,187 |
2,880Highest |
1,169Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57.6±5.8 48% above U.S. |
50.6±2.4Lowest 30% above U.S. |
58.9±8.8Highest 51% above U.S. |
| Dunkirk and Tompkins are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 8.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
10%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Berlin and Dunkirk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.6%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
42.4%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dunkirk and Tompkins are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $61,103±$27kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$86,691±$21kHighest 7% above U.S. |
$67,045±$18k 17% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Dunkirk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $185,700±$23k 44% below U.S. |
$273,600±$31kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$167,100±$40kLowest 50% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $483±$80Lowest 66% below U.S. |
$1,169±$171Highest 17% below U.S. |
$956±$553 32% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Dunkirk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,487Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$4,418Highest 42% above U.S. |
$2,730 12% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±73.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±26.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Berlin and Dunkirk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 70 minHighest 166% above U.S. |
21 min 20% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.5%±13.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
2.4%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Tompkins and Berlin 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 | — | #16 of 70 in VT | #465 of 484 in NY |
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.