Compare towns
Dix vs Cairo vs Watkins Glen
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 most affordable homes ($165k median).
Cairo has the highest household income ($80k).
Watkins Glen has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.2%).
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.
| Measure | Dix | Cairo | Watkins Glen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,660 |
6,700Highest |
1,725Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-0.4% NY: +4.2% |
+0.2%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 50.1±2.8 26% above NY |
44.2±4.2Lowest 11% above NY |
54.1±6.2Highest 36% above NY |
| Watkins Glen and Dix are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.7%±3.4 NY: 20.5% |
17.9%±3.5Highest NY: 20.5% |
11.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Cairo and Dix 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% |
22.9%±4.2Lowest NY: 17.9% |
33.7%±4.2Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Watkins Glen 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% |
28.9%Highest NY: 40.2% |
28.8% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.9Lowest NY: 7% |
3.7%±1.5Highest NY: 7% |
3.6%±1.9 NY: 7% |
| Cairo and Watkins Glen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $53,668±$8k 38% below NY |
$79,643±$22kHighest 7% below NY |
$49,632±$11kLowest 42% below NY |
| Cairo and Dix are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $165,000±$14kLowest 61% below NY |
$263,400±$18kHighest 38% below NY |
$204,700±$22k 52% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $718±$172Lowest 56% below NY |
$1,015±$305Highest 37% below NY |
$741±$156 54% below NY |
| Cairo and Watkins Glen 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 |
$4,246Highest 35% below NY |
$3,985 39% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±13.6 NY: 52.1% |
45.1%±16.2Highest NY: 52.1% |
36.3%±11.3Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Cairo and Dix are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.2%Highest NY: 14% |
10.5%Lowest NY: 14% |
10.9% NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.1% NY: 54.3% |
75.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
49.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952 7 yrs older than NY |
1973Highest 14 yrs newer than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 39% below NY |
29 minHighest 13% below NY |
19 minLowest 42% below NY |
| Work from home | 4.3%±2.3Lowest NY: 14.9% |
11.1%±6.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
8.4%±4 NY: 14.9% |
| Cairo and Watkins Glen 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 | #461 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | WATKINS GLEN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | CAIRO-DURHAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | WATKINS GLEN CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | — |
| 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.