Compare towns
Tompkins vs Wayne vs Middlesex
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%).
Wayne has the most expensive homes ($267k median).
Middlesex has the most kids (18% 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 | Wayne | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,187 |
1,033Lowest |
1,407Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-3.1% NY: +4.2% |
-7.9%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 57.6±5.8 45% above NY |
62.6±3.6Highest 57% above NY |
55.3±6Lowest 39% 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%±3 NY: 20.5% |
18%±3.8Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Middlesex and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.6%±4.9 NY: 17.9% |
40.1%±6Highest NY: 17.9% |
24.6%±3.1Lowest 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% |
21.1% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2Highest NY: 7% |
1%±0.8Lowest NY: 7% |
1.3%±1.3 NY: 7% |
| Tompkins and Middlesex 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 |
$90,938±$17kHighest 6% above NY |
$75,750±$21k 12% below NY |
| Wayne and Middlesex 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 |
$208,100±$62k 51% below NY |
| Wayne and Middlesex 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±$304 36% below NY |
$1,406±$672Highest 13% below NY |
| Middlesex and Wayne 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 |
$3,967Highest 40% below NY |
$3,459 47% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±73.7Lowest NY: 52.1% |
38.9%±100Highest NY: 52.1% |
29.1%±39 NY: 52.1% |
| Wayne and Middlesex 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% NY: 14% |
5.8%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.1% NY: 54.3% |
95.8%Highest NY: 54.3% |
90.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 33 yrs newer than NY |
1971Lowest 12 yrs newer than NY |
1974 15 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 70 minHighest 115% above NY |
28 min 13% below NY |
25 minLowest 22% below NY |
| Work from home | 23.5%±13.3Highest NY: 14.9% |
9.3%±4.2Lowest NY: 14.9% |
18.2%±6.2 NY: 14.9% |
| Tompkins and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| 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.