Compare towns
Tompkins vs Gorham 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Gorham has the most expensive homes ($263k median).
Middlesex has the highest household income ($76k).
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 | Gorham | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,187Lowest |
4,093Highest |
1,407 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-3.3% NY: +4.2% |
-7.9%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 57.6±5.8Highest 45% above NY |
48.7±8.8Lowest 22% above NY |
55.3±6 39% above NY |
| Tompkins and Middlesex 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% |
19.9%±4.4Highest NY: 20.5% |
18%±3.8 NY: 20.5% |
| Gorham and Middlesex 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% |
27.1%±4.7 NY: 17.9% |
24.6%±3.1Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Tompkins and Gorham 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% |
27.3%Highest NY: 40.2% |
21.1% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2Highest NY: 7% |
3.7%±1.9 NY: 7% |
1.3%±1.3Lowest NY: 7% |
| Tompkins and Gorham 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 |
$64,874±$8k 25% below NY |
$75,750±$21kHighest 12% below NY |
| Middlesex and Gorham 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 |
$263,300±$27kHighest 38% below NY |
$208,100±$62k 51% below NY |
| Gorham and Middlesex 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 |
$1,165±$208 28% below NY |
$1,406±$672Highest 13% below NY |
| Middlesex and Gorham 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 |
$3,497Highest 47% below NY |
$3,459 47% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±73.7Lowest NY: 52.1% |
70.6%±21.5Highest NY: 52.1% |
29.1%±39 NY: 52.1% |
| Gorham and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.8% NY: 14% |
9.4%Highest NY: 14% |
5.8%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.1%Highest NY: 54.3% |
79.7%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
90.1% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 33 yrs newer than NY |
1959Lowest same as NY |
1974 15 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 70 minHighest 115% above NY |
21 minLowest 35% below NY |
25 min 22% below NY |
| Work from home | 23.5%±13.3Highest NY: 14.9% |
12.8%±5.3Lowest 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 | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #246 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | — | GORHAM-MIDDLESEX CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT (MARCUS WHITMAN) | GORHAM-MIDDLESEX CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT (MARCUS WHITMAN) |
| High school in town | — | MARCUS WHITMAN HIGH SCHOOL | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.2 |
— |
| 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.