Compare towns
Tompkins vs Durham vs Walton
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Durham has the highest household income ($81k).
Walton has the shortest commute (17 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 | Durham | Walton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,187Lowest |
2,641 |
5,222Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-3.6% NY: +4.2% |
-5.5%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 57.6±5.8Highest 45% above NY |
48.8±5.1Lowest 23% above NY |
50±4 26% above NY |
| Tompkins and Walton 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% |
17.8%±4.1 NY: 20.5% |
| Durham and Walton 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% |
24.2%±7 NY: 17.9% |
23.5%±3.9Lowest 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% |
24.5% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2Highest NY: 7% |
1.3%±1.2Lowest NY: 7% |
1.8%±1.8 NY: 7% |
| Tompkins and Walton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $61,103±$27k 29% below NY |
$81,471±$15kHighest 5% below NY |
$49,183±$15kLowest 43% 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±$23k 56% below NY |
$245,300±$26kHighest 42% below NY |
$151,100±$17kLowest 64% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $483±$80Lowest 70% below NY |
$994±$844Highest 39% below NY |
$818±$92 50% below NY |
| Durham and Walton 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 |
$2,494 62% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±73.7Lowest NY: 52.1% |
19.3%±40.8 NY: 52.1% |
41.7%±12.9Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Walton and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.8% NY: 14% |
4.1%Lowest NY: 14% |
25.3%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.1% NY: 54.3% |
92%Highest NY: 54.3% |
75.7%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 33 yrs newer than NY |
1976 17 yrs newer than NY |
1954Lowest 5 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 70 minHighest 115% above NY |
33 min about the NY average |
17 minLowest 47% below NY |
| Work from home | 23.5%±13.3Highest NY: 14.9% |
13%±7.8 NY: 14.9% |
10.3%±6.3Lowest 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 | #292 of 484 in NY |
| School district | — | CAIRO-DURHAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | WALTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | CAIRO-DURHAM HIGH SCHOOL | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.9 |
— |
| 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.