Compare towns
Dix vs Reading 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
Dix has the oldest population (median age 50.1).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.7%).
Penn Yan has the shortest commute (14 min average).
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 | Penn Yan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,660 |
1,637Lowest |
4,714Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+0.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-2% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 50.1±2.8Highest 26% above NY |
46.3±6.4Lowest 16% above NY |
48.5±4.1 22% above NY |
| Dix and Penn Yan 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%±2.9Highest NY: 20.5% |
16.1%±3 NY: 20.5% |
| Reading and Penn Yan 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% |
21.5%±2Lowest NY: 17.9% |
30.3%±4.4Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Penn Yan 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% |
37.9%Highest NY: 40.2% |
21.8% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.9 NY: 7% |
4.2%±2.4Highest NY: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest 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 |
$60,190±$10k 30% below NY |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $165,000±$14kHighest 61% below NY |
$160,200±$37k 62% below NY |
$152,700±$13kLowest 64% 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±$172 56% below NY |
$1,507±$514Highest 7% below NY |
$663±$228Lowest 59% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,141Lowest 52% below NY |
$3,219Highest 51% below NY |
$3,146 52% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±13.6Highest NY: 52.1% |
33.9%±19.2 NY: 52.1% |
32.8%±15.1Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Dix and Reading 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% |
12.8%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.1% NY: 54.3% |
81.4%Highest NY: 54.3% |
61.8%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952 7 yrs older than NY |
1967Highest 8 yrs newer than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 39% below NY |
28 minHighest 13% below NY |
14 minLowest 56% below NY |
| Work from home | 4.3%±2.3Lowest NY: 14.9% |
11.7%±4.6Highest NY: 14.9% |
6.2%±3.7 NY: 14.9% |
| Reading and Penn Yan 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.