Compare towns
Hector vs Preble vs Dix
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hector has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.9%).
Preble has the most people working from home (16.7%).
Dix has the shortest commute (20 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 | Hector | Preble | Dix |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,850Highest |
1,150Lowest |
3,660 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-2.6% NY: +4.2% |
-2.8%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 51.1±4Highest 28% above NY |
44.8±8.8Lowest 13% above NY |
50.1±2.8 26% above NY |
| Hector and Dix are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.8 NY: 20.5% |
21.1%±4.3Highest NY: 20.5% |
13.7%±3.4Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Preble and Hector are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25%±5Lowest NY: 17.9% |
29%±4.1Highest NY: 17.9% |
27.9%±5 NY: 17.9% |
| Preble and Dix are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9% NY: 40.2% |
37.7%Highest NY: 40.2% |
17.4%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 NY: 7% |
6.3%±3.3Highest NY: 7% |
2.9%±1.9Lowest NY: 7% |
| Preble and Hector are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,904±$19k 7% below NY |
$82,083±$20kHighest 5% below NY |
$53,668±$8kLowest 38% below NY |
| Preble and Hector are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $218,700±$32kHighest 48% below NY |
$176,700±$27k 58% below NY |
$165,000±$14kLowest 61% below NY |
| Hector and Preble are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,083±$525 33% below NY |
$1,278±$194Highest 21% below NY |
$718±$172Lowest 56% below NY |
| Preble and Hector are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,072 38% below NY |
$4,323Highest 34% below NY |
$3,141Lowest 52% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 81.7%±21.3 NY: 52.1% |
92.7%±13.9Highest NY: 52.1% |
44.5%±13.6Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Preble and Hector are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.6%Highest NY: 14% |
5.4%Lowest NY: 14% |
12.2% NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4%Highest NY: 54.3% |
86% NY: 54.3% |
66.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 20 yrs newer than NY |
1960 1 yr newer than NY |
1952Lowest 7 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 18% below NY |
27 minHighest 16% below NY |
20 minLowest 39% below NY |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4.8 NY: 14.9% |
16.7%±6Highest NY: 14.9% |
4.3%±2.3Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Preble and Hector 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.