What stands out worked out from the figures below

Tompkins has the most people working from home (23.5%).

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.

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

Measure	Tompkins	Dunkirk
People
Population	1,187Highest	1,169Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.4%Highest NY: +4.2%	-5.9%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	57.6±5.8Lowest 45% above NY	58.9±8.8Highest 48% above NY
	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 NY: 20.5%	10%±3.9Highest NY: 20.5%
	Dunkirk and Tompkins are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	30.6%±4.9Lowest NY: 17.9%	42.4%±7Highest NY: 17.9%
	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 NY: 40.2%	20.4%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±2Highest NY: 7%	1.4%±1Lowest NY: 7%
	Tompkins and Dunkirk 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	$67,045±$18kHighest 22% below NY
	Dunkirk 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±$23kHighest 56% below NY	$167,100±$40kLowest 61% below NY
	Tompkins and Dunkirk 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	$956±$553Highest 41% below NY
	Dunkirk and Tompkins are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,487Lowest 62% below NY	$2,730Highest 59% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±73.7Lowest NY: 52.1%	37.1%±26.8Highest NY: 52.1%
	Dunkirk and Tompkins are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.8%Lowest NY: 14%	8.9%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.1%Highest NY: 54.3%	84%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1992Highest 33 yrs newer than NY	1952Lowest 7 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	70 minHighest 115% above NY	14 minLowest 56% below NY
Work from home	23.5%±13.3Highest NY: 14.9%	2.4%±2.5Lowest NY: 14.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#465 of 484 in NY
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.