What stands out worked out from the figures below

Tompkins has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).

Dummerston has the most kids (21.7% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Tompkins	Dummerston
People
Population	1,187Lowest	2,090Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	57.6±5.8Highest 48% above U.S.	45.6±11.7Lowest 17% above U.S.
	Tompkins and Dummerston 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%	21.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	30.6%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%	24.3%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Tompkins and Dummerston 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%	58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Tompkins and Dummerston 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 24% below U.S.	$101,696±$21kHighest 26% above U.S.
	Dummerston and Tompkins are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$185,700±$23kLowest 44% below U.S.	$335,300±$22kHighest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$483±$80Lowest 66% below U.S.	$1,392±$126Highest about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,487Lowest 20% below U.S.	$4,536Highest 45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±73.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	44.1%±32.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Dummerston and Tompkins are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S.	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	70 minHighest 166% above U.S.	21 minLowest 21% below U.S.
Work from home	23.5%±13.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Dummerston and Tompkins are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.