Compare towns
Reading vs Dix vs Hector
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.7%).
Dix has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Hector has the most expensive homes ($219k 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 | Reading | Dix | Hector |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,637Lowest |
3,660 |
4,850Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-2.8%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-0.9% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 46.3±6.4Lowest 16% above NY |
50.1±2.8 26% above NY |
51.1±4Highest 28% 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 | 17.2%±2.9 NY: 20.5% |
13.7%±3.4Lowest NY: 20.5% |
18%±3.8Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Hector and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±2Lowest NY: 17.9% |
27.9%±5Highest NY: 17.9% |
25%±5 NY: 17.9% |
| Dix and Hector are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Highest NY: 40.2% |
17.4%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
36.9% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.4Highest NY: 7% |
2.9%±1.9Lowest NY: 7% |
3.2%±1.6 NY: 7% |
| Reading and Hector are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,131±$9kHighest about the NY average |
$53,668±$8kLowest 38% below NY |
$79,904±$19k 7% below NY |
| Reading and Hector are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $160,200±$37kLowest 62% below NY |
$165,000±$14k 61% below NY |
$218,700±$32kHighest 48% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,507±$514Highest 7% below NY |
$718±$172Lowest 56% below NY |
$1,083±$525 33% below NY |
| Reading and Hector are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,219 51% below NY |
$3,141Lowest 52% below NY |
$4,072Highest 38% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±19.2Lowest NY: 52.1% |
44.5%±13.6 NY: 52.1% |
81.7%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Lowest NY: 14% |
12.2% NY: 14% |
15.6%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.4% NY: 54.3% |
66.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
91.4%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 8 yrs newer than NY |
1952Lowest 7 yrs older than NY |
1979Highest 20 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 13% below NY |
20 minLowest 39% below NY |
27 min 18% below NY |
| Work from home | 11.7%±4.6 NY: 14.9% |
4.3%±2.3Lowest NY: 14.9% |
13.6%±4.8Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Hector 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 |
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.