Compare towns
Dryden vs Erwin vs Beacon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dryden has the youngest population (median age 40.5).
Erwin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.7%).
Beacon has the most expensive homes ($472k 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 | Dryden | Erwin | Beacon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,604 |
7,965Lowest |
14,834Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7% NY: +4.2% |
+0.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-11.4%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 40.5±2.6Lowest about the NY average |
43.8±2Highest 10% above NY |
42±2.2 6% above NY |
| Erwin and Beacon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.9%±1.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±3.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
20%±3.1 NY: 20.5% |
| Erwin and Beacon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±2.1Highest NY: 17.9% |
17.4%±2.8 NY: 17.9% |
14.4%±2.2Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Dryden and Erwin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.7%Highest NY: 40.2% |
49.2% NY: 40.2% |
48.9%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.2%±1.8Highest NY: 7% |
4.3%±1.9 NY: 7% |
2.4%±1Lowest NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,127±$4kLowest 6% below NY |
$88,333±$16k about the NY average |
$107,859±$21kHighest 25% above NY |
| Beacon and Erwin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,600±$15k 43% below NY |
$223,700±$26kLowest 47% below NY |
$471,600±$27kHighest 11% above NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,074±$90Lowest 34% below NY |
$1,271±$136 22% below NY |
$1,658±$145Highest about the NY average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,334 4% below NY |
$5,829Lowest 11% below NY |
$7,958Highest 21% above NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.4%±8.8 NY: 52.1% |
56.8%±14Highest NY: 52.1% |
46.4%±9.3Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Erwin and Dryden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.6%Highest NY: 14% |
9.3% NY: 14% |
9%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63.2% NY: 54.3% |
67.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
61.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 20 yrs newer than NY |
1977 18 yrs newer than NY |
1957Lowest 2 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 41% below NY |
15 minLowest 54% below NY |
41 minHighest 27% above NY |
| Work from home | 15.3%±2.9 NY: 14.9% |
9.5%±4.3Lowest NY: 14.9% |
21.2%±4.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Beacon and Dryden 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 | #356 of 484 in NY | #431 of 484 in NY | #423 of 484 in NY |
| School district | DRYDEN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · GEORGE JUNIOR REPUBLIC UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT | CORNING CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | BEACON CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | DRYDEN HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | BEACON HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
— | 10.6Highest |
| 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.