The Town FilesTompkins, New York
Town in Delaware County · population 1,290 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $185,700
- Household income
- $61,103
- Jan low / Jul high
- 11° / 79°
- Snow a year
- 65 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 57.6
Tompkins is a town of 1,290 people in Delaware County, New York. The median home is worth $185,700, below the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks quieter than 90% of New York towns, better for first-time buyers than 81% of New York towns, better for a vacation home than 81% of New York towns.
How Tompkins ranks
Percentile among New York towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New York towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Tompkins is worth $185,700, below the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $61,103, which is more affordable than 45% of New York towns. Median rent is $483 a month. 91.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Tompkins | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $185,700 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $483 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $61,103 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 91.1% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1992 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 32.6% | — |
Who lives in Tompkins
| People | Tompkins | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 57.6 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 30.6% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 8.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.8% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.8% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 7.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.8% | — |
| Work from home | 23.5% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 70.2 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.6% | 91.1% |
Weather in Tompkins
July highs average 78.8°F and January lows 11.4°F. About 49.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 64.5 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 3 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 173 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Tompkins since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 31, 1998 about 2.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 18, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 11 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on May 9, 2000.
Severe weather in Delaware County since 1996
Delaware County has been included in 39 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 24, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4825: Remnants Of Tropical Storm Debby |
| August 22, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3565: Hurricane Henri |
| March 20, 2020 | Biological | DR-4480: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3434: Covid-19 |
| October 1, 2018 | Flood | DR-4397: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Delaware County
Delaware County had 14,276 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $66,992 a year. Unemployment was 4% in 2023; in Tompkins itself the ACS puts it at 0.7%.
Towns near Tompkins
- Deposit, NY5.2 mi · 1,427 people · home $111,000
- Walton, NY8.2 mi · 2,885 people · home $119,400
- Masonville, NY8.4 mi · 1,239 people · home $155,300
- Deposit, NY8.5 mi · 1,387 people · home $118,500
- Walton, NY8.5 mi · 5,270 people · home $151,100
- Hancock, NY11.3 mi · 908 people · home $150,000
- Sanford, NY11.5 mi · 2,239 people · home $140,900
- Hancock, NY11.8 mi · 2,764 people · home $161,100
Tompkins questions
Is Tompkins, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Tompkins scores better for retirees than 58% of New York towns and quieter than 90%. 30.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 57.6).
How much does a house cost in Tompkins?
The median owner-occupied home in Tompkins is valued at $185,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $61,103, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $483 a month.
What is the weather like in Tompkins?
July highs average 78.8°F and January lows 11.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.1 inches of precipitation a year and 64.5 inches of snow.
Does Tompkins get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Tompkins since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 31, 1998. The typical New York town has had 5.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)