Compare towns
Tompkins vs Middlesex vs Dunkirk
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%).
Middlesex has the most kids (18% under 18).
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.
| Measure | Tompkins | Middlesex | Dunkirk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,187 |
1,407Highest |
1,169Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-7.9%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-5.9% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 57.6±5.8 45% above NY |
55.3±6Lowest 39% 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% |
18%±3.8Highest NY: 20.5% |
10%±3.9 NY: 20.5% |
| Age 65+ | 30.6%±4.9 NY: 17.9% |
24.6%±3.1Lowest 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% |
21.1%Highest NY: 40.2% |
20.4% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2Highest NY: 7% |
1.3%±1.3Lowest NY: 7% |
1.4%±1 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 |
$75,750±$21kHighest 12% below NY |
$67,045±$18k 22% below NY |
| Middlesex and Dunkirk 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 |
$208,100±$62kHighest 51% below NY |
$167,100±$40kLowest 61% 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 |
$956±$553 41% below NY |
| Middlesex and Dunkirk 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 |
$3,459Highest 47% below NY |
$2,730 59% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±73.7Lowest NY: 52.1% |
29.1%±39 NY: 52.1% |
37.1%±26.8Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Dunkirk 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% |
5.8%Lowest NY: 14% |
8.9%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.1%Highest NY: 54.3% |
90.1% NY: 54.3% |
84%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 33 yrs newer than NY |
1974 15 yrs newer than NY |
1952Lowest 7 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 70 minHighest 115% above NY |
25 min 22% below NY |
14 minLowest 56% below NY |
| Work from home | 23.5%±13.3Highest NY: 14.9% |
18.2%±6.2 NY: 14.9% |
2.4%±2.5Lowest 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 | — | — | #465 of 484 in NY |
| 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 | 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.