Compare towns
Tompkins vs Caroga vs Middlesex
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Tompkins has the most people working from home (23.5%).
Caroga has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.9%).
Middlesex has the most kids (18% under 18).
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 | Caroga | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,187 |
983Lowest |
1,407Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% NY: +4.2% |
+4.9%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-7.9%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 57.6±5.8Highest 45% above NY |
55.4±5.3 39% above NY |
55.3±6Lowest 39% above NY |
| Tompkins and Caroga are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 8.8%±1.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
10.6%±3.8 NY: 20.5% |
18%±3.8Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Middlesex and Caroga are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.6%±4.9Highest NY: 17.9% |
29.2%±6.8 NY: 17.9% |
24.6%±3.1Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Tompkins and Caroga are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18.8% NY: 40.2% |
16.3%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
21.1%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2Highest NY: 7% |
1.7%±1.4 NY: 7% |
1.3%±1.3Lowest NY: 7% |
| Tompkins and Caroga are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $61,103±$27kLowest 29% below NY |
$65,395±$18k 24% below NY |
$75,750±$21kHighest 12% below NY |
| Middlesex and Caroga are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $185,700±$23k 56% below NY |
$172,300±$25kLowest 59% below NY |
$208,100±$62kHighest 51% below NY |
| Middlesex and Tompkins are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $483±$80Lowest 70% below NY |
— | $1,406±$672Highest 13% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,487Lowest 62% below NY |
$2,547 61% below NY |
$3,459Highest 47% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±73.7Lowest NY: 52.1% |
21.1%±100 NY: 52.1% |
29.1%±39Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Middlesex and Caroga are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.8%Highest NY: 14% |
7.4% NY: 14% |
5.8%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.1% NY: 54.3% |
95.3%Highest NY: 54.3% |
90.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 33 yrs newer than NY |
1948Lowest 11 yrs older than NY |
1974 15 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 70 minHighest 115% above NY |
33 min about the NY average |
25 minLowest 22% below NY |
| Work from home | 23.5%±13.3Highest NY: 14.9% |
3.6%±3Lowest NY: 14.9% |
18.2%±6.2 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 | — | WHEELERVILLE UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT | GORHAM-MIDDLESEX CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT (MARCUS WHITMAN) |
| High school in town | — | None 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.