What stands out worked out from the figures below

Tompkins has the most expensive homes ($186k median).

Nelliston has the shortest commute (25 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Tompkins	Nelliston
People
Population	1,187Highest	707Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.4%Highest NY: +4.2%	-6.9%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	57.6±5.8Lowest 45% above NY	60.6±11.9Highest 52% above NY
	Nelliston 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%	12.9%±7.3Highest NY: 20.5%
	Nelliston and Tompkins are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	30.6%±4.9Lowest NY: 17.9%	31.1%±7.9Highest NY: 17.9%
	Nelliston 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%Highest NY: 40.2%	18%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±2Highest NY: 7%	1.7%±2Lowest NY: 7%
	Tompkins and Nelliston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$61,103±$27kHighest 29% below NY	$39,219±$29kLowest 54% below NY
	Tompkins and Nelliston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$185,700±$23kHighest 56% below NY	$74,200±$26kLowest 82% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$483±$80Lowest 70% below NY	$628±$18Highest 61% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,487Highest 62% below NY	$2,400Lowest 64% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±73.7Lowest NY: 52.1%	80%±51.1Highest NY: 52.1%
	Nelliston and Tompkins are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.8%Lowest NY: 14%	26.7%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.1%Highest NY: 54.3%	68.4%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1992Highest 33 yrs newer than NY	1938Lowest 21 yrs older 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%	9.6%±9.8Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Tompkins and Nelliston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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.