Tompkins County, New York Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Tompkins County is located in New York with a total population of 102,879. It is the 28th most populous county out of 62 in New York. The county encompasses 1 Census-designated place.

Age Demographics

The median age in Tompkins County is 32.8 years. This is 17% lower than the state median of 39.6 years. Only 14.6% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Tompkins County is $73,012. This is 14% lower than the state median of $84,578. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 7% lower. The poverty rate stands at 15.3%. This is 12% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.7%. The unemployment rate is 5.3%. This is 14% lower than the state rate of 6.2%. The median home value is $271,500. Housing costs are 33% lower than the state median of $403,000. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.7x. 53.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Tompkins County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 75.0% of the population. Asian residents account for 9.5%. The Black or African American population (3.3%) is well below the state average of 13.6%. The Hispanic or Latino population (6.5%) is well below the state average of 19.6%.

Education

59.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Tompkins County in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 50% higher than the state rate of 39.6%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 95.9%. Notably, 34.1% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.