Compare towns
Reading vs Dix vs Preble
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).
Preble has the most people working from home (16.7%).
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 | Preble |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,637 |
3,660Highest |
1,150Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-2.8%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-2.6% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 46.3±6.4 16% above NY |
50.1±2.8Highest 26% above NY |
44.8±8.8Lowest 13% above NY |
| Dix and Reading 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% |
21.1%±4.3Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Preble 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%±5 NY: 17.9% |
29%±4.1Highest 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+ | 37.9%Highest NY: 40.2% |
17.4%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
37.7% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.4 NY: 7% |
2.9%±1.9Lowest NY: 7% |
6.3%±3.3Highest NY: 7% |
| Preble and Reading 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 |
$82,083±$20k 5% below NY |
| Reading and Preble 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 |
$176,700±$27kHighest 58% below NY |
| Preble and Dix are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,507±$514Highest 7% below NY |
$718±$172Lowest 56% below NY |
$1,278±$194 21% below NY |
| Reading and Preble 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 |
$4,323Highest 34% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±19.2Lowest NY: 52.1% |
44.5%±13.6 NY: 52.1% |
92.7%±13.9Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Below poverty line | 5.6% NY: 14% |
12.2%Highest NY: 14% |
5.4%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.4% NY: 54.3% |
66.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
86%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest 8 yrs newer than NY |
1952Lowest 7 yrs older than NY |
1960 1 yr newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 13% below NY |
20 minLowest 39% below NY |
27 min 16% below NY |
| Work from home | 11.7%±4.6 NY: 14.9% |
4.3%±2.3Lowest NY: 14.9% |
16.7%±6Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Preble 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.