Compare towns
Dix vs Fleming vs Reading vs Hector
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 renters (33.9% rent).
Fleming has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.7%).
Hector has the most people working from home (13.6%).
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 | Fleming | Reading | Hector |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,660 |
2,463 |
1,637Lowest |
4,850Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8% NY: +4.2% |
-6%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+0.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-0.9% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 50.1±2.8 26% above NY |
43.7±9.2Lowest 10% above NY |
46.3±6.4 16% above NY |
51.1±4Highest 28% above NY |
| Hector and Dix are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.7%±3.4Lowest NY: 20.5% |
23.7%±5.8Highest NY: 20.5% |
17.2%±2.9 NY: 20.5% |
18%±3.8 NY: 20.5% |
| Fleming and Hector are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.9%±5Highest NY: 17.9% |
24.5%±2.9 NY: 17.9% |
21.5%±2Lowest NY: 17.9% |
25%±5 NY: 17.9% |
| Dix and Hector 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% |
30.9% NY: 40.2% |
37.9%Highest NY: 40.2% |
36.9% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.9Lowest NY: 7% |
4.5%±2.9Highest NY: 7% |
4.2%±2.4 NY: 7% |
3.2%±1.6 NY: 7% |
| Fleming and Reading 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 |
$92,216±$7kHighest 7% above NY |
$86,131±$9k about the NY average |
$79,904±$19k 7% below NY |
| Fleming and Reading 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 |
$250,000±$32kHighest 41% below NY |
$160,200±$37kLowest 62% below NY |
$218,700±$32k 48% below NY |
| Fleming and Hector are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $718±$172Lowest 56% below NY |
$1,773±$334Highest 9% above NY |
$1,507±$514 7% below NY |
$1,083±$525 33% below NY |
| Fleming and Reading 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 |
$5,214Highest 21% below NY |
$3,219 51% below NY |
$4,072 38% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±13.6 NY: 52.1% |
15.7%±16.7Lowest NY: 52.1% |
33.9%±19.2 NY: 52.1% |
81.7%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Below poverty line | 12.2% NY: 14% |
4.3%Lowest NY: 14% |
5.6% NY: 14% |
15.6%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
86.7% NY: 54.3% |
81.4% NY: 54.3% |
91.4%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 7 yrs older than NY |
1957 2 yrs older than NY |
1967 8 yrs newer than NY |
1979Highest 20 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 39% below NY |
18 minLowest 44% below NY |
28 minHighest 13% below NY |
27 min 18% below NY |
| Work from home | 4.3%±2.3Lowest NY: 14.9% |
6.9%±3.3 NY: 14.9% |
11.7%±4.6 NY: 14.9% |
13.6%±4.8Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Hector and Reading 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.