What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Middlesex has the most kids (18% 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	Middlesex
People
Population	1,187Lowest	1,407Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.4%Highest NY: +4.2%	-7.9%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	57.6±5.8Highest 45% above NY	55.3±6Lowest 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%	18%±3.8Highest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	30.6%±4.9Highest NY: 17.9%	24.6%±3.1Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Tompkins and Middlesex 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%	21.1%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±2Highest NY: 7%	1.3%±1.3Lowest NY: 7%
	Tompkins and Middlesex 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	$75,750±$21kHighest 12% below NY
	Middlesex 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	$208,100±$62kHighest 51% below NY
	Middlesex and Tompkins 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	$1,406±$672Highest 13% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,487Lowest 62% below NY	$3,459Highest 47% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±73.7Lowest NY: 52.1%	29.1%±39Highest NY: 52.1%
	Middlesex 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%	5.8%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.1%Highest NY: 54.3%	90.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1992Highest 33 yrs newer than NY	1974Lowest 15 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	70 minHighest 115% above NY	25 minLowest 22% below NY
Work from home	23.5%±13.3Highest NY: 14.9%	18.2%±6.2Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Tompkins and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	GORHAM-MIDDLESEX CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT (MARCUS WHITMAN)
High school in town	—	None in town
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.