Compare towns
Dix vs Hector vs Reading vs Waterloo
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 shortest commute (20 min average).
Hector has the most expensive homes ($219k median).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.7%).
Waterloo has the most affordable homes ($114k median).
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 | Hector | Reading | Waterloo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,660 |
4,850Highest |
1,637Lowest |
4,605 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8% NY: +4.2% |
-0.9% NY: +4.2% |
+0.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-7%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 50.1±2.8 26% above NY |
51.1±4Highest 28% above NY |
46.3±6.4Lowest 16% above NY |
50.8±4.5 28% above NY |
| Hector 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% |
18%±3.8Highest NY: 20.5% |
17.2%±2.9 NY: 20.5% |
16.9%±3.3 NY: 20.5% |
| Hector and Reading 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%±5 NY: 17.9% |
21.5%±2Lowest NY: 17.9% |
29.4%±5Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Waterloo 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% |
36.9% NY: 40.2% |
37.9%Highest NY: 40.2% |
23.5% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.9Lowest NY: 7% |
3.2%±1.6 NY: 7% |
4.2%±2.4 NY: 7% |
4.9%±2.5Highest NY: 7% |
| Waterloo 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±$8k 38% below NY |
$79,904±$19k 7% below NY |
$86,131±$9kHighest about the NY average |
$51,642±$9kLowest 40% below NY |
| Reading and Hector 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 |
$218,700±$32kHighest 48% below NY |
$160,200±$37k 62% below NY |
$114,300±$7kLowest 73% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $718±$172Lowest 56% below NY |
$1,083±$525 33% below NY |
$1,507±$514Highest 7% below NY |
$927±$49 43% below NY |
| Reading and Hector 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 |
$4,072Highest 38% below NY |
$3,219 51% below NY |
$3,772 43% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±13.6 NY: 52.1% |
81.7%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
33.9%±19.2Lowest NY: 52.1% |
43.6%±13.9 NY: 52.1% |
| Below poverty line | 12.2% NY: 14% |
15.6%Highest NY: 14% |
5.6%Lowest NY: 14% |
11.7% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
91.4%Highest NY: 54.3% |
81.4% NY: 54.3% |
68.7% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952 7 yrs older than NY |
1979Highest 20 yrs newer than NY |
1967 8 yrs newer than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 39% below NY |
27 min 18% below NY |
28 minHighest 13% below NY |
21 min 35% below NY |
| Work from home | 4.3%±2.3Lowest NY: 14.9% |
13.6%±4.8Highest NY: 14.9% |
11.7%±4.6 NY: 14.9% |
13.2%±7.7 NY: 14.9% |
| Hector 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.