Compare towns
Dix vs Exeter vs Waterloo 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
Exeter has the most expensive homes ($243k median).
Waterloo has the most affordable homes ($114k median).
Penn Yan has grown the fastest since 2010 (-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 | Exeter | Waterloo | Penn Yan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,660 |
913Lowest |
4,605 |
4,714Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8% NY: +4.2% |
-14.4%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-7% NY: +4.2% |
-2%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 50.1±2.8 26% above NY |
51.7±12.6Highest 30% above NY |
50.8±4.5 28% above NY |
48.5±4.1Lowest 22% above NY |
| Exeter and Waterloo 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% |
22.7%±7.1Highest NY: 20.5% |
16.9%±3.3 NY: 20.5% |
16.1%±3 NY: 20.5% |
| Exeter and Waterloo 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% |
26.9%±10.5Lowest NY: 17.9% |
29.4%±5 NY: 17.9% |
30.3%±4.4Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Penn Yan and Waterloo 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% |
28.2%Highest NY: 40.2% |
23.5% NY: 40.2% |
21.8% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.9 NY: 7% |
1%±1.9Lowest NY: 7% |
4.9%±2.5Highest NY: 7% |
1.3%±1.1 NY: 7% |
| Waterloo 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±$8k 38% below NY |
$77,550±$19kHighest 10% below NY |
$51,642±$9kLowest 40% below NY |
$60,190±$10k 30% below NY |
| Exeter and Penn Yan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $165,000±$14k 61% below NY |
$243,000±$89kHighest 43% below NY |
$114,300±$7kLowest 73% below NY |
$152,700±$13k 64% below NY |
| Exeter 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 |
$867±$44 47% below NY |
$927±$49Highest 43% below NY |
$663±$228Lowest 59% below NY |
| Waterloo and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,141 52% below NY |
$2,926Lowest 56% below NY |
$3,772Highest 43% below NY |
$3,146 52% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±13.6Highest NY: 52.1% |
0%±100Lowest NY: 52.1% |
43.6%±13.9 NY: 52.1% |
32.8%±15.1 NY: 52.1% |
| Dix and Waterloo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.2% NY: 14% |
4.3%Lowest NY: 14% |
11.7% NY: 14% |
12.8%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.1% NY: 54.3% |
97.7%Highest NY: 54.3% |
68.7% NY: 54.3% |
61.8%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952 7 yrs older than NY |
1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 39% below NY |
29 minHighest 12% below NY |
21 min 35% below NY |
14 minLowest 56% below NY |
| Work from home | 4.3%±2.3Lowest NY: 14.9% |
14.4%±10.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
13.2%±7.7 NY: 14.9% |
6.2%±3.7 NY: 14.9% |
| Exeter and Waterloo 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 | 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.