Compare towns

Dix vs Aurelius vs Penn Yan

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dix has the oldest population (median age 50.1).
Aurelius has the highest household income ($94k).
Penn Yan has the most people working from home (6.2%).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

MeasureDixAureliusPenn Yan
People
Population
3,660
2,593Lowest
4,714Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.8%
NY: +4.2%
-6.5%Lowest
NY: +4.2%
-2%Highest
NY: +4.2%
Median age
50.1±2.8Highest
26% above NY
49.1±4
23% above NY
48.5±4.1Lowest
22% above NY
Dix and Aurelius are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
13.7%±3.4Lowest
NY: 20.5%
20.1%±4Highest
NY: 20.5%
16.1%±3
NY: 20.5%
Aurelius and Penn Yan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
27.9%±5
NY: 17.9%
25.7%±4.4Lowest
NY: 17.9%
30.3%±4.4Highest
NY: 17.9%
Penn Yan and Dix are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
17.4%Lowest
NY: 40.2%
21.6%
NY: 40.2%
21.8%Highest
NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.9%±1.9
NY: 7%
3.2%±1.8Highest
NY: 7%
1.3%±1.1Lowest
NY: 7%
Aurelius and Dix are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$53,668±$8kLowest
38% below NY
$94,079±$16kHighest
9% above NY
$60,190±$10k
30% below NY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$165,000±$14k
61% below NY
$167,000±$14kHighest
61% below NY
$152,700±$13kLowest
64% below NY
Aurelius and Dix are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$718±$172
56% below NY
$813±$200Highest
50% below NY
$663±$228Lowest
59% below NY
Aurelius and Dix are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,141Lowest
52% below NY
$3,516Highest
47% below NY
$3,146
52% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.5%±13.6Highest
NY: 52.1%
44%±17.5
NY: 52.1%
32.8%±15.1Lowest
NY: 52.1%
Dix and Aurelius are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
12.2%
NY: 14%
9.7%Lowest
NY: 14%
12.8%Highest
NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
66.1%
NY: 54.3%
92.3%Highest
NY: 54.3%
61.8%Lowest
NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1952
7 yrs older than NY
1963Highest
4 yrs newer than NY
1938Lowest
21 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 minHighest
39% below NY
19 min
43% below NY
14 minLowest
56% below NY
Work from home
4.3%±2.3Lowest
NY: 14.9%
4.3%±2.1Lowest
NY: 14.9%
6.2%±3.7Highest
NY: 14.9%
Penn Yan and Dix are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #391 of 484 in NY — —
School district WATKINS GLEN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT — —
High school in town WATKINS GLEN CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL — —
Students per teacherat that high school
10.9
— —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

NY average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.