What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Durham has the most kids (18.3% 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	Durham
People
Population	1,187Lowest	2,641Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.4%Highest NY: +4.2%	-3.6%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	57.6±5.8Highest 45% above NY	48.8±5.1Lowest 23% above NY
	Tompkins and Durham 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%	18.3%±5.2Highest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	30.6%±4.9Highest NY: 17.9%	24.2%±7Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Tompkins and Durham 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%	28.3%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±2Highest NY: 7%	1.3%±1.2Lowest NY: 7%
	Tompkins and Durham 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	$81,471±$15kHighest 5% below NY
	Durham 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 56% below NY	$245,300±$26kHighest 42% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$483±$80Lowest 70% below NY	$994±$844Highest 39% below NY
	Durham 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	$3,728Highest 43% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±73.7Lowest NY: 52.1%	19.3%±40.8Highest NY: 52.1%
	Durham 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 NY: 14%	4.1%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%	92%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1992Highest 33 yrs newer than NY	1976Lowest 17 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	70 minHighest 115% above NY	33 minLowest about the NY average
Work from home	23.5%±13.3Highest NY: 14.9%	13%±7.8Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Tompkins and Durham 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	—	#100 of 484 in NY
School district	—	CAIRO-DURHAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	—	CAIRO-DURHAM HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	7.9
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.