Compare towns
Dix vs Lyons 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 most renters (33.9% rent).
Lyons has the most kids (25.7% under 18).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.7%).
Waterloo has the most people working from home (13.2%).
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 | Lyons | Reading | Waterloo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,660 |
5,594Highest |
1,637Lowest |
4,605 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8% NY: +4.2% |
-0.1% NY: +4.2% |
+0.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-7%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 50.1±2.8 26% above NY |
41.1±5.4Lowest 3% above NY |
46.3±6.4 16% above NY |
50.8±4.5Highest 28% above NY |
| Waterloo 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% |
25.7%±5.8Highest NY: 20.5% |
17.2%±2.9 NY: 20.5% |
16.9%±3.3 NY: 20.5% |
| Lyons 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% |
19.5%±3.4Lowest NY: 17.9% |
21.5%±2 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% |
21% NY: 40.2% |
37.9%Highest NY: 40.2% |
23.5% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.9 NY: 7% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest 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 |
$74,524±$12k 13% below NY |
$86,131±$9kHighest about the NY average |
$51,642±$9kLowest 40% below NY |
| Reading and Lyons are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $165,000±$14kHighest 61% below NY |
$98,400±$12kLowest 77% below NY |
$160,200±$37k 62% below NY |
$114,300±$7k 73% below NY |
| Dix and Reading 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 |
$920±$111 43% below NY |
$1,507±$514Highest 7% below NY |
$927±$49 43% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,141 52% below NY |
$2,998Lowest 54% below NY |
$3,219 51% below NY |
$3,772Highest 43% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±13.6Highest NY: 52.1% |
35.6%±12.2 NY: 52.1% |
33.9%±19.2Lowest NY: 52.1% |
43.6%±13.9 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% |
14.3%Highest NY: 14% |
5.6%Lowest NY: 14% |
11.7% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
74.9% NY: 54.3% |
81.4%Highest NY: 54.3% |
68.7% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952 7 yrs older than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1967Highest 8 yrs newer than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 39% below NY |
21 min 37% below NY |
28 minHighest 13% below NY |
21 min 35% below NY |
| Work from home | 4.3%±2.3Lowest NY: 14.9% |
11.8%±8.3 NY: 14.9% |
11.7%±4.6 NY: 14.9% |
13.2%±7.7Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Waterloo and Lyons 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 | #388 of 484 in NY | — | — |
| School district | WATKINS GLEN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | LYONS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | — |
| High school in town | WATKINS GLEN CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL | LYONS SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Highest |
9.5Lowest |
— | — |
| 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.