Compare towns
Tompkins vs Seneca
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%).
Seneca has the most kids (19.5% 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.
| Measure | Tompkins | Seneca |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 1,187Lowest |
2,622Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-2.8%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 57.6±5.8Highest 45% above NY |
44.5±6.2Lowest 12% above NY |
| Kids under 18 | 8.8%±1.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
19.5%±3.9Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Age 65+ | 30.6%±4.9Highest NY: 17.9% |
22.3%±4.5Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Tompkins and Seneca 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% |
22.1%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2Highest NY: 7% |
2.2%±1.4Lowest NY: 7% |
| Tompkins and Seneca 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 |
$90,658±$21kHighest 5% above NY |
| Seneca 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 |
$192,700±$9kHighest 55% below NY |
| Seneca 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 |
$1,549±$420Highest 4% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,487Lowest 62% below NY |
$2,810Highest 57% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±73.7Lowest NY: 52.1% |
7.2%±24.9Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Seneca 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% |
6.2%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
91.6%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 33 yrs newer than NY |
1945Lowest 14 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 70 minHighest 115% above NY |
27 minLowest 17% below NY |
| Work from home | 23.5%±13.3Highest NY: 14.9% |
10.9%±3.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Tompkins and Seneca 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.