What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Wayne has the shortest commute (28 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	Wayne
People
Population	1,187Highest	1,033Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.4%Highest NY: +4.2%	-3.1%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	57.6±5.8Lowest 45% above NY	62.6±3.6Highest 57% above NY
	Wayne 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%	12.3%±3Highest NY: 20.5%
	Wayne 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%	40.1%±6Highest NY: 17.9%
	Wayne 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%	42.3%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±2Highest NY: 7%	1%±0.8Lowest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$61,103±$27kLowest 29% below NY	$90,938±$17kHighest 6% above NY
	Wayne 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	$266,700±$150kHighest 37% below NY
	Wayne 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	$1,031±$304Highest 36% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,487Lowest 62% below NY	$3,967Highest 40% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±73.7Lowest NY: 52.1%	38.9%±100Highest NY: 52.1%
	Wayne 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%	95.8%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1992Highest 33 yrs newer than NY	1971Lowest 12 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	70 minHighest 115% above NY	28 minLowest 13% below NY
Work from home	23.5%±13.3Highest NY: 14.9%	9.3%±4.2Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Tompkins and Wayne 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.