1st Advantage MortgageTompkins County households have a median income of $74,024 and median rent of $1,411 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in New York before sharing details.
On this page
- Getting oriented in Tompkins County
- What it costs to live in Tompkins County
- Paychecks and income spread in Tompkins County
- The Tompkins County job picture
- Tompkins County next to its neighbors
- Places inside Tompkins County
- Budget math at the Tompkins County median
- More Tompkins County figures
- What the numbers mean for Tompkins County borrowers
- Checking a lender's license in New York
- Four steps for Tompkins County borrowers
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Tompkins County
Roughly 104,537 residents live in Tompkins County, New York, 28th by population among the state's 62 counties and county equivalents. It covers 475 square miles of land, or about 220 people per square mile. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Ithaca, NY metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. Of the 21 Census places inside Tompkins County, Ithaca leads by population with about 32,814; 7 of the 21 are incorporated.
What it costs to live in Tompkins County
A typical Tompkins County rental runs $1,411 a month including utilities, which is 13% below New York. 59% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 34% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $290,900, about 3.9 times the median household income. 54% of Tompkins County households own their home and 46% rent. Half the housing stock was built before 1974.
| Home costs | Tompkins County | New York | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,411/mo | $1,621/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $290,900 | $423,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 54% | 54% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 59% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 21% | 33% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 7.6% | 2.1% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 9% | 10% | n/a |
With renters making up 46% of households, many Tompkins County borrowers have no home equity to fall back on, so the cheapest written offer on an unsecured loan matters more. Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
Paychecks and income spread in Tompkins County
Half of Tompkins County households take in less than $74,024 a year and half take in more, 14% below the New York median of $85,974. That places it 25th among New York's 62 county-level areas.
| Yearly household income | Tompkins County | Gap to New York |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 23.5% | +1.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 39.1% | +5.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 25.5% | -1.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 11.9% | -5.2 pts |
Some 23% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 37% have six-figure incomes. 16.4% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 14.0%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.483 here. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
The Tompkins County job picture
By the Census industry count, 47% of employed Tompkins County residents work in education and health care and 12% in professional and administrative services. The sharpest difference from the state is in education and health care, at 47% locally and 29% for New York. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 5.5% in Tompkins County. Long commutes are the exception here: 7% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Top industries | Tompkins County share | +/- vs New York |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 46.6% | +17.3 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 12.1% | -1.2 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.6% | +0.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 8.2% | -1.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 5.9% | +0.2 pts |
| Other services | 3.9% | -0.8 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Tompkins County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Tompkins County next to its neighbors
Tioga County is closest, 21 miles from center to center; the sixth, Yates County, is 35 miles off. None of the six report a higher median household income than Tompkins County; Tioga County is highest at $72,739 and Chemung County lowest at $63,716.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tompkins County | - | $74,024 | $1,411/mo | 54% |
| Tioga County, NY | 21 mi | $72,739 | $928/mo | 79% |
| Cortland County, NY | 22 mi | $70,418 | $984/mo | 66% |
| Schuyler County, NY | 24 mi | $67,663 | $899/mo | 79% |
| Chemung County, NY | 25 mi | $63,716 | $1,059/mo | 68% |
| Seneca County, NY | 29 mi | $68,089 | $957/mo | 71% |
| Yates County, NY | 35 mi | $69,701 | $834/mo | 77% |
Places inside Tompkins County
21 Census places fall mainly inside Tompkins County; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 66,632 residents, leaving about 36% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $48,784 in Ithaca to $166,526 in Cayuga Heights. Live in one of these Tompkins County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ithaca | city | 32,814 | $48,784 | $1,447 | 2 mi |
| South Hill | CDP | 6,951 | $104,211 | $1,991 | 3 mi |
| Cayuga Heights | village | 4,000 | $166,526 | $1,700 | 1 mi |
| Lansing | village | 3,876 | $72,364 | $1,726 | 3 mi |
| Northeast Ithaca | CDP | 2,661 | $95,250 | $1,738 | 1 mi |
| Northwest Ithaca | CDP | 2,225 | $56,753 | $1,185 | 3 mi |
| East Ithaca | CDP | 1,918 | $116,410 | $1,234 | 2 mi |
| Groton | village | 1,834 | $60,114 | $832 | 11 mi |
| Dryden | village | 1,671 | $50,435 | $870 | 9 mi |
| Trumansburg | village | 1,665 | $68,967 | $954 | 11 mi |
| South Lansing | CDP | 1,496 | n/a | n/a | 6 mi |
| Forest Home | CDP | 1,303 | $59,018 | $1,379 | 0 mi |
| Newfield | CDP | 999 | $96,875 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Varna | CDP | 687 | $70,227 | $1,759 | 2 mi |
Budget math at the Tompkins County median
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Tompkins County's medians:
- $74,024 a year is $6,169 of gross monthly income
- Less median rent of $1,411, which is 23% of it
- At 36%, room after rent is $810 a month
If your rent is above $1,411, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
More Tompkins County figures
59% of Tompkins County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 4.4%, against 5.1% for New York.
| Tompkins County | New York | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.3 | 39.8 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 58.8% | 40.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 4.4% | 12.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.4% | 5.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 14.1% | 29.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 20.0% | 14.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 16.4% | 14.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.5% | 6.4% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Tompkins County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 36.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 46.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 11.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 2.0% |
| 60+ min | 4.6% |
What the numbers mean for Tompkins County borrowers
What the Tompkins County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Rent squeeze. 59% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
Checking a lender's license in New York
Consumer lenders serving Tompkins County are licensed by the state, not the county; in New York that is the New York State Department of Financial Services. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. Statewide data and rules: New York guide.
Four steps for Tompkins County borrowers
A short checklist for Tompkins County borrowers:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Related local guides
The New York guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Tompkins County a high-income county?
Its $74,024 median ranks 25th of 62 New York counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How does Tompkins County rent compare with New York?
$1,411 locally versus $1,621 for the state, 13% below.
What are the biggest places in Tompkins County?
By population: Ithaca, South Hill, Cayuga Heights, Lansing, Northeast Ithaca. The county has 21 Census places in all.
Does living in Tompkins County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Tompkins County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Who regulates personal lenders for Tompkins County residents?
The New York State Department of Financial Services licenses consumer lenders in New York; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.