Compare towns
Dix vs Windham 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).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($316k median).
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 | Windham | Reading | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,660Highest |
1,432 |
1,637 |
1,196Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8% NY: +4.2% |
+0.3% NY: +4.2% |
+0.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-12.5%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 50.1±2.8 26% above NY |
56.5±5.1Highest 42% above NY |
46.3±6.4Lowest 16% above NY |
46.6±6.3 17% above NY |
| Windham and Dix are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.7%±3.4 NY: 20.5% |
11.1%±4.4Lowest 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%±5 NY: 17.9% |
31.4%±5.2Highest NY: 17.9% |
21.5%±2Lowest NY: 17.9% |
22.9%±4.1 NY: 17.9% |
| Windham 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% NY: 40.2% |
43.8%Highest NY: 40.2% |
37.9% NY: 40.2% |
16.8%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.9 NY: 7% |
6.6%±5Highest NY: 7% |
4.2%±2.4 NY: 7% |
0%±1.7Lowest NY: 7% |
| Windham 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 |
$76,477±$17k 11% below NY |
$86,131±$9kHighest about the NY average |
$60,000±$9k 30% below NY |
| Reading and Windham 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 |
$315,600±$74kHighest 26% below NY |
$160,200±$37k 62% below NY |
$119,200±$17kLowest 72% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $718±$172Lowest 56% below NY |
$850±$295 48% 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 |
$3,363Highest 49% below NY |
$3,219 51% below NY |
$2,667Lowest 59% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±13.6 NY: 52.1% |
68.9%±35.7Highest NY: 52.1% |
33.9%±19.2Lowest NY: 52.1% |
66.1%±42.6 NY: 52.1% |
| Windham and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.2% NY: 14% |
7.4% NY: 14% |
5.6%Lowest NY: 14% |
12.7%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
89%Highest NY: 54.3% |
81.4% NY: 54.3% |
84.9% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 7 yrs older than NY |
1985Highest 26 yrs newer than NY |
1967 8 yrs newer than NY |
1979 20 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 39% below NY |
27 min 18% below NY |
28 min 13% below NY |
30 minHighest 8% below NY |
| Work from home | 4.3%±2.3Lowest NY: 14.9% |
17.1%±6.9Highest NY: 14.9% |
11.7%±4.6 NY: 14.9% |
8.1%±4.3 NY: 14.9% |
| Windham 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.