Compare towns
Tompkins vs Middlesex vs Hancock
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).
Hancock has the most renters (23.6% rent).
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 | Hancock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,187Lowest |
1,407 |
2,769Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-7.9% NY: +4.2% |
-14.3%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 57.6±5.8Highest 45% above NY |
55.3±6 39% above NY |
54.3±5.7Lowest 36% 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% |
14.4%±3.6 NY: 20.5% |
| Middlesex and Hancock 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% |
24.6%±3.1Lowest NY: 17.9% |
29.9%±5.7 NY: 17.9% |
| Tompkins and Hancock 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% NY: 40.2% |
22.4%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2Highest NY: 7% |
1.3%±1.3Lowest NY: 7% |
3%±1.6 NY: 7% |
| Tompkins and Hancock 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 |
$62,243±$11k 28% below NY |
| Middlesex and Hancock 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 |
$161,100±$8kLowest 62% 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 |
$1,052±$172 35% below NY |
| Middlesex and Hancock 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 |
$2,584 61% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±73.7Lowest NY: 52.1% |
29.1%±39 NY: 52.1% |
59%±13.1Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Hancock 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% |
13%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.1%Highest NY: 54.3% |
90.1% NY: 54.3% |
76.4%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 33 yrs newer than NY |
1974 15 yrs newer than NY |
1960Lowest 1 yr newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 70 minHighest 115% above NY |
25 minLowest 22% below NY |
30 min 8% below NY |
| Work from home | 23.5%±13.3Highest NY: 14.9% |
18.2%±6.2 NY: 14.9% |
7%±4.3Lowest 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 | — | — | #471 of 484 in NY |
| School district | — | GORHAM-MIDDLESEX CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT (MARCUS WHITMAN) | HANCOCK CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | None in town | HANCOCK JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.9 |
| 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.