The Best Home Security Systems in Tompkins County, NY
Are you looking for the best home security systems in Tompkins County, NY? Using Crime Grade's exceptional crime data that is accurate down to the neighborhood, we have analyzed Tompkins County, NY home security system options in a way no other source has been able to do. See why
A property crime is committed in Tompkins County every 11 hours 36 minutes, and nationwide, your home is 300% more likely to be burglarized without a home security system. Tompkins County experiences 6.850 property crimes per 1000 people and 8.928 incidents of vandalism per 1000 people in the typical year. A home security system will protect you when you’re at home or away, 24 hours a day.
Home Security Companies Available in Tompkins County, NY
Best Overall
Simplisafe
We believe Simplisafe is the best home security system for residents of Tompkins County. The combination of a high amount of renters (45%) and education level (54% of residents have a college degree) makes Simplisafe our top pick.
Affordable Option
Ring
Ring Alarm is a disrupter whose incredibly low monitoring fees (as low as 1/10th the price of larger and better-known companies) and sharp equipment has already made them a household name.
Upgrade Pick
Vivint
Vivint doesn't seem to care about competitive prices; just quality. Their bespoke whole-house systems combine strict security with cutting-edge technology and full-scale home automation, making up the complete package.
Do You Need a Home Security System in Tompkins County, NY?
Choosing a home security system can seem overwhelming. We’re here to help break down what to consider when living in Tompkins County, NY. We’ll compare different crime rates and weather along with advanced features that make you feel safer and make your life easier.
Why Crime Grade?
Crime Grade has the most robust and accurate nationwide crime model available. In addition, our data is granular enough to identify and compare crime statistics to the neighborhood level. This puts us in the unique position of being able to evaluate the home security needs of people in a particular county rather than making a general assessment. So read on to see what's unique about Tompkins County, NY and our home security system recommendations that result from that.
Property Crime in Tompkins County, NY
Our analysis gives Tompkins County a property crime grade of: D. Tompkins County is in the 80th percentile of safety, meaning 80% of cities in New York are safer and 20% are more dangerous. Please visit our Tompkins County crime map for details on how this is calculated and what it means.
Crime Grades
Property crime is highest in the central part of Tompkins County, with your chances of being a victim of 1 in 67. Compare this to the northwestern part of the county, where crime is lower, and your chances of being a victim are 1 in 927.
D-
F |
|
D |
|
Other Crime Grade |
C+ |
A crime occurs every 1 hour 28 minutes (on average) in Tompkins County, NY.
Your home is 300% more likely to be robbed with no home security system.
So, is Tompkins County safe? Compared to all of New York, Tompkins County is rated as safe as the average New York county, which has a property crime rate of 15.86 per 1000. Looking at burglary, we see a different pattern, where Tompkins County, with its burglary rate of 1.431 per 1000, is as safe as the average New York county.
In addition, Tompkins County is lower than other counties with similar populations for property crime. The table below shows property crime rates and level of occurrence in Tompkins County, NY.
Crime Type |
Crime Rate (per 1000 residents) |
Avg Number of Crimes per year in Tompkins County, NY |
Avg Crimes Committed Per Week |
|---|---|---|---|
Theft |
5.292 |
583 |
11.2 |
Vehicle Theft |
0.1064 |
12 |
0.2 |
Burglary |
1.431 |
158 |
3.0 |
Arson |
0.0202 |
2 |
0.0 |
Weather and Climate in Tompkins County, NY
As strange as it might sound, some home security system features can be more or less important based on the climate you live in.
Home Security Fire Sensors in Tompkins County, NY
Hotter temperatures can lead to higher risk of fires in the home. The average temperature in Tompkins County, NY is 43.96 degrees, reaching 85.86 degrees in the hottest months like July & August. This temperature has increased compared to 1990, when the hottest month reached 81.50 degrees in July.
Home age is another factor in determining fire risk, primarily due to electrical issues. The average home in Tompkins County was built in 1975, which is older than the national average of 1978 and is much older than the average home in New York build in 1964.
Between colder seasonal temperatures and newer homes in Tompkins County, you can judge how important fire sensors and immediate response may be. A combination of smoke detectors, CO2 sensors, and fire alarms connected to a home security system can make that response as swift as possible, whether you’re at work or on vacation.
Home Security Flood Sensors in Tompkins County, NY
Tompkins County, NY gets an average rainfall of 0.9" per year. This is lower than the average of 1.1" for New York.
With the risk of flooding and burst pipes, a flood sensor can alert you and authorities as soon as possible. Even a few hours make the difference between an easy restoration and long-term water damage.
Home Security Freeze Sensors in Tompkins County, NY
Tompkins County, NY reaches an average of 27.08 degrees in its cold months of January & February. This temperature has increased compared to 1990, when the coldest month reached 34.38 degrees in January.
The year a home was constructed can also contribute to the risk of damage from cold weather. The average home in Tompkins County is 48 years old, and seasonal temperature changes have had much more time to cause stress on the home compared to the average New York home that's 59 years old and more time than the national average of a 45-year-old home.
Temperature fluctuations will weaken the structure and foundation of the home, cold temperatures can cause pipes to leak or burst, and if it snows that can cause additional stress on the roof. However, freeze sensors are not an expensive addon. After assessing your Tompkins County home, you can make a more informed decision if they would be a suitable addition to your home security system.
Cost of Home Security Systems in Tompkins County, NY
To identify the final cost of a home security system for your Tompkins County home, we must determine some of your preferences.
Self-Monitored or Professionally Monitored?
Any home security system you pick will offer a selection of equipment including entry sensors, cameras, etc. The question is, do you actually want to self-monitor your system? If like 45.05% (47,636) of people in Tompkins County, you are a renter, you might prefer a self-monitored home security system. On the other hand, 54.95% or 58,104 of Tompkins County residents own their homes and may be more likely to consider a professionally monitored system to protect their property.
Whether you rent or buy, how well can you monitor your system on your own? For example, if you're one of the 53% of people who commute an average of 23 minutes to work in or around Tompkins County, can you immediately receive notifications on your phone, check cameras in meetings or while working, and call the police if needed?
If not, you might want a professionally monitored system where a company is available 24/7 to respond, whether on vacation or at work. Please see our comprehensive guide on the best home security systems for a complete comparison.
Self-Installed vs. Professional Installation
Most providers have great self-installation options, so if you're handy or tech-savvy, like the 10% of Tompkins County residents working in computer engineering and science, self-installation can be a great option.
Alternatively, when your security system is installed professionally, you can ensure that your equipment is placed correctly and will function without any problems. That peace of mind is valuable for people willing to spend the extra money.
Residents of Tompkins County tend to have a lower median household income than nearby counties, earning $67,775 annually. In addition, 54.2% of residents have a college degree or higher, compared to 32.9% in the United States.
If you're a homeowner, do you have more to protect? The median home value in Tompkins County is $269,829. Compared to the median home value in New York of $481,023, your home value will probably be lower. With their larger lots, single-family homes tend to be more isolated from view and a tempting target for burglars.
Find an in-depth review of installation options in our best home security systems guide.
Police Stations Near Tompkins County, NY
There are 24 police stations within the boundaries of Tompkins County, and 6 within 5 miles. Within 50 miles of the Tompkins County center, there are 237 police stations. Compared to other counties, police response times in Tompkins County may be faster. Even when response times are good, every second your security system saves in reporting a crime will improve the police response.
| Cayuga Heights Police Department 836 Hanshaw Road Ithaca, NY 14850 (607) 257-1011 cayuga-heights.ny.us |
Tompkins County Criminal Jstc 125 East Court St Ithaca, NY 14850 (607) 274-5449 tompkins-co.org |
Federal Bureau-Investigation 171 East State St Ithaca, NY 14850 (607) 272-6424 ifccfbi.com |
Home Security and Property Crime in Counties Near Tompkins County, NY
Nearby County | Property Crime Grade | Overall Crime Grade | Safer than Tompkins County, NY? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cortland County, NY | B | C+ | more safe |
| Schuyler County, NY | D+ | C+ | more safe |
| Chenango County, NY | B | B+ | more safe |
| Otsego County, NY | B- | A- | more safe |
| Berkshire County, MA | C | C+ | more safe |
| Hampshire County, MA | D+ | C- | more safe |
| Franklin County, MA | A | A+ | more safe |
| Worcester County, MA | F | F | less safe |
| Middlesex County, MA | D | D+ | about as safe |
| Suffolk County, MA | F | F | less safe |
Home Security and Property Crime in Counties Similar to Tompkins County, NY
Nearby County | Property Crime Grade | Overall Crime Grade | Safer than Tompkins County, NY? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yamhill County, OR | A- | B | more safe |
| Miami County, OH | B+ | A- | more safe |
| Sevier County, TN | D | D | about as safe |
| Sherburne County, MN | A+ | A+ | more safe |
| St. Lawrence County, NY | F | F | less safe |
| Story County, IA | C | B | more safe |
| Sumter County, SC | C+ | C | more safe |
| Sutter County, CA | A | B+ | more safe |
| Terrebonne Parish, LA | C- | C | more safe |
| DeKalb County, IL | C | B- | more safe |
Summarizing Home Security Considerations in Tompkins County, NY
Deciding whether you need a home security system in Tompkins County, NY can be a complicated decision. We've used distrinctive property crime statistics and varying environment factors about the county to help us make an objective recommendation for most residents. Leveraging CrimeGrade.org's uniquely robust and granular crime data, we've scrutinized the options for home security systems, tailoring them to the unique needs and context of Tompkins County residents.
Combining the property crime Grades, demographic information, and local climate conditions for advanced home security features gives us some companies that stand out.
Simplisafe, Ring, and Vivint have emerged as the top choices for Tompkins County residents due to their distinctive offerings and reliability, each appealing to varied preferences and budget ranges of homeowners and renters alike. Notably, factors such as Tompkins County's climate, housing age, and average income levels further steer the home security considerations.
Property Crime Insights
- A property crime occurs approximately every 11 hours 36 minutes in Tompkins County.
- The county experiences 6.850 property crimes and 8.928 vandalism insidents per 1,000 people annually.
- Tompkins County's property crime grade stands at an 'D', comparably as safe as other New York {{place_type__plural_lower}}.
Noteworthy Security Companies
- Simplisafe: We believe Simplisafe is the best home security system for residents of Tompkins County. The combination of a high amount of renters (45%) and education level (54% of residents have a college degree) makes Simplisafe our top pick.
- Ring: Ring Alarm is a disrupter whose incredibly low monitoring fees (as low as 1/10th the price of larger and better-known companies) and sharp equipment has already made them a household name.
- Vivint: Vivint doesn't seem to care about competitive prices; just quality. Their bespoke whole-house systems combine strict security with cutting-edge technology and full-scale home automation, making up the complete package.
Climate Considerations for Security
- Fire sensors could be worth considering, since the average temperature reaches 85.86 degrees in the peak months of July & August.
- Freeze sensors might be worth considering, with January & February temperatures averaging 27.08 degrees.
- Flood sensors are also worth considering due to the 0.9" of average yearly rainfall and house age of 48 years.
Self vs. Professional Monitoring & Installation
- 45.05% of Tompkins County residents are renters, potentially inclining towards self-monitored systems.
- Given the 53% of commuters, professional monitoring might offer valuable peace of mind.
- Considering Tompkins County's lower household median income of $67,775 and 54.2% college-degree holding populace, investment in professional installation and advanced system features might be favorable.
Local Police Presence
- Tompkins County hosts 24 police stations within it's borders, potentially influencing response times.