RANK #375 / 996 · POP 102,555 · NY
PROJECTED GROWTH: +1.2%
Tompkins County, New York, is often recognized for its dramatic gorges and over 150 waterfalls, including Taughannock Falls, which stands taller than Niagara Falls. Located in the Finger Lakes Region of central New York, the county seat, Ithaca, sits at the southern tip of Cayuga Lake. This area, roughly four hours from New York City, blends rural landscapes with the cultural amenities of a college town, largely influenced by Cornell University and Ithaca College. Residents and visitors enjoy extensive outdoor recreation, from hiking and biking trails to water activities on Cayuga Lake.
Life in Tompkins County is shaped by its academic institutions, which draw a diverse population of students, faculty, and professionals. Public schools in the Ithaca City School District and other districts like Dryden and Lansing are highly rated. The economy is significantly driven by higher education, with Cornell University being the largest employer. Beyond academia, there's a growing focus on technology-oriented companies, particularly in areas like biotechnology, and a strong tourism sector that benefits from the region's natural beauty and culinary offerings. Local initiatives are also addressing quality of life concerns, such as the cost of living and access to childcare.
Below national median (4.7x)
Above national median
Below-average climate & terrain
Housing is fairly valued at 4.2x relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
TeraWulf Data Center Campus
TeraWulf
|
$500M | Proposed |
|
Yellow Barn Solar PV Park
Yellow Barn Solar LLC (subsidiary of CS Energy), Lydian Energy
|
$200M | Planned |
|
Cayuga Solar Project
AES Corporation
|
$60M | Planned |
|
Emergency Shelter Construction Project
Tompkins County, Volunteers of America
|
$50M | Planned |
|
SouthWorks Redevelopment Project
City of Ithaca, Tompkins County
|
$50M | Proposed |
|
Troy Heights Energy Storage
Cleanview (developer not specified)
|
$40M | Planned |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
Tompkins County has a Boom Town Index score of 62/100, ranking #375 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at +1.6% and a median household income of $69,995, it's an above-average county on economic indicators.
The median home value in Tompkins County is $264,300 with median rent at $1,320/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.2648, which is more affordable than the national average.
Population growth: -2.9% year-over-year. Job growth: +1.6%. Home values changed +2.3% in the past 12 months.
Yes — 7.31% of Tompkins County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.