Compare towns
Dix vs Reading vs Orange
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).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.7%).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($119k 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 | Reading | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,660Highest |
1,637 |
1,196Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8% NY: +4.2% |
+0.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-12.5%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 50.1±2.8Highest 26% above NY |
46.3±6.4Lowest 16% above NY |
46.6±6.3 17% above NY |
| Dix and Orange 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% |
17.2%±2.9 NY: 20.5% |
18%±4Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Orange and Reading 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% |
21.5%±2Lowest NY: 17.9% |
22.9%±4.1 NY: 17.9% |
| Dix and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17.4% NY: 40.2% |
37.9%Highest NY: 40.2% |
16.8%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.9 NY: 7% |
4.2%±2.4Highest NY: 7% |
0%±1.7Lowest NY: 7% |
| Reading 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±$8kLowest 38% below NY |
$86,131±$9kHighest about the NY average |
$60,000±$9k 30% below NY |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $165,000±$14kHighest 61% below NY |
$160,200±$37k 62% below NY |
$119,200±$17kLowest 72% 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 |
$1,507±$514Highest 7% below NY |
$932±$81 43% below NY |
| Reading and Orange 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 |
$3,219Highest 51% below NY |
$2,667Lowest 59% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±13.6 NY: 52.1% |
33.9%±19.2Lowest NY: 52.1% |
66.1%±42.6Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Orange and Dix are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.2% NY: 14% |
5.6%Lowest NY: 14% |
12.7%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
81.4% NY: 54.3% |
84.9%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 7 yrs older than NY |
1967 8 yrs newer than NY |
1979Highest 20 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 39% below NY |
28 min 13% below NY |
30 minHighest 8% below NY |
| Work from home | 4.3%±2.3Lowest NY: 14.9% |
11.7%±4.6Highest NY: 14.9% |
8.1%±4.3 NY: 14.9% |
| Reading and Orange 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 |
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.