Population 104,537 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Tompkins County
Household size in Tompkins County
| Period | Tompkins County | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.29 | 2.68 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.40 | 2.72 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.30 | 2.69 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.11 | 2.65 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.18 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Households in Tompkins County are small: just 2.11 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.29, a much bigger shift than nationally. Of New York's 62 counties, only two have smaller households.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Tompkins County
| Period | Tompkins County | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 35.1 | 38.3 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 34.6 | 39.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 35.4 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 36.3 | 40.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.3 | +2.5 | +2.3 |
Tompkins County is younger than the country as a whole: its median age is 36.3, against 40.1 nationally. The median age has climbed from 35.1 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Only one other New York county is younger.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Tompkins County
| Period | Tompkins County | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.0% | 13.1% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.7% | 12.7% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 7.9% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.1% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | +1.1 pts | −1.5 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 8.1% of households in Tompkins County, well below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share is up 1.1 points from 2006–10, even as the national share fell. Of New York's 62 counties, only four have a lower share of single-parent households.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Tompkins County
Renters in Tompkins County
| Period | Tompkins County | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 45.0% | 44.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 43.9% | 46.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 45.1% | 46.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 45.9% | 45.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | +0.9 pts | +0.9 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting is far more common in Tompkins County than nationally: 45.9% of households rent their homes, against 34.8%. Among homeowners, 50.7% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share is up 0.9 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. Only four of New York's 62 counties have a higher share of renters.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Tompkins County
| Period | Tompkins County | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.9% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 9.6% | 10.4% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 10.0% | 11.0% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 9.9% | 9.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | +2.1 pts | −0.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy in Tompkins County is close to the national rate: 9.9% of homes are empty, against 9.6%. Since 2006–10, vacancy has risen 2.1 points, even as the national rate fell.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Tompkins County
| Period | Tompkins County | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1965 | 1956 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1967 | 1957 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1970 | 1958 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1971 | 1961 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +5 | +6 |
The housing in Tompkins County is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1971, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. Even so, homes here are newer than in New York overall, where the median home dates to 1961. The median year built has moved up from 1965 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the southwest, while the northwest has the oldest housing.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Tompkins County
| Period | Tompkins County | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $846 | $1,095 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $978 | $1,201 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,158 | $1,426 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,436 | $1,794 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$590 | +$698 | +$606 |
Rent in Tompkins County runs $1,436 a month at the median, utilities included, below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $590 a month since 2006–10, up 70%, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 33.9% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the northwest; the highest are in the south.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Tompkins County
Bachelor's degrees in Tompkins County
| Period | Tompkins County | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 52.6% | 31.9% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 55.4% | 33.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 57.7% | 36.2% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 61.0% | 39.8% | 35.6% |
| Change | +8.5 pts | +8.0 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in Tompkins County: 61.0% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's degree or higher, against 35.6% nationally. Education tends to track local incomes and the kinds of jobs nearby. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 8.5 points, mirroring the country. Only one other New York county has a higher share of college graduates.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Tompkins County
| Period | Tompkins County | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 92.9% | 84.0% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 94.2% | 84.9% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 95.0% | 86.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 95.4% | 87.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.5 pts | +3.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Tompkins County: 95.4% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 2.5 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. No other New York county has a higher share of high school graduates.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Tompkins County
| Period | Tompkins County | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.7% | 7.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 6.0% | 9.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.8% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.7% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | +1.0 pts | −1.2 pts | −2.7 pts |
At 5.7%, unemployment in Tompkins County is close to the national rate of 5.4%. The rate is lower than in New York as a whole (6.6%). Since 2006–10, unemployment has edged up 1.0 points, even as the national rate fell.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Tompkins County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tompkins County | 2.11 | 36.3 | 8.1% | 45.9% | 9.9% | 1971 | $1,436 | 61.0% | 95.4% | 5.7% |
| Cortland County | 2.26 | 39.0 | 11.1% | 33.7% | 10.0% | 1961 | $1,046 | 28.3% | 90.4% | 4.7% |
| Schuyler County | 2.40 | 46.7 | 9.3% | 20.8% | 21.9% | 1967 | $1,117 | 26.3% | 90.6% | 6.1% |
| Chenango County | 2.31 | 45.8 | 10.8% | 24.6% | 18.2% | 1965 | $910 | 19.9% | 89.8% | 6.1% |
| Otsego County | 2.38 | 42.0 | 9.1% | 26.1% | 19.9% | 1961 | $939 | 33.9% | 92.1% | 6.4% |
| Berkshire County | 2.18 | 47.3 | 10.7% | 30.1% | 16.0% | 1956 | $1,361 | 39.5% | 94.0% | 5.4% |
| Hampshire County | 2.31 | 40.8 | 8.1% | 32.2% | 10.0% | 1967 | $1,516 | 52.5% | 95.9% | 5.4% |
| Franklin County | 2.23 | 47.6 | 9.8% | 29.9% | 8.9% | 1962 | $1,211 | 40.0% | 94.4% | 5.4% |
| Worcester County | 2.56 | 41.1 | 11.7% | 34.2% | 6.8% | 1965 | $1,549 | 39.8% | 90.9% | 5.3% |
| Middlesex County | 2.56 | 40.3 | 8.3% | 38.7% | 5.9% | 1962 | $2,208 | 59.5% | 93.0% | 4.3% |
| Suffolk County | 2.36 | 35.9 | 12.1% | 63.5% | 9.3% | 1957 | $2,151 | 50.4% | 86.9% | 6.7% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Yamhill County, OR · Miami County, OH · Sevier County, TN · Sherburne County, MN · St. Lawrence County, NY · Story County, IA · Sumter County, SC · Sutter County, CA · Terrebonne Parish, LA · DeKalb County, IL
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Tompkins County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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