Compare towns
Reading vs Lyons 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
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.7%).
Lyons has the most kids (25.7% under 18).
Dix has the most renters (33.9% rent).
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 | Lyons | Dix |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,637Lowest |
5,594Highest |
3,660 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-0.1% NY: +4.2% |
-2.8%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 46.3±6.4 16% above NY |
41.1±5.4Lowest 3% above NY |
50.1±2.8Highest 26% 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% |
25.7%±5.8Highest NY: 20.5% |
13.7%±3.4Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Lyons and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±2 NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.4Lowest NY: 17.9% |
27.9%±5Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Dix and Reading 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% |
21% NY: 40.2% |
17.4%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.4Highest NY: 7% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NY: 7% |
2.9%±1.9 NY: 7% |
| Reading and Dix 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 |
$74,524±$12k 13% below NY |
$53,668±$8kLowest 38% below NY |
| Reading and Lyons are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $160,200±$37k 62% below NY |
$98,400±$12kLowest 77% below NY |
$165,000±$14kHighest 61% below NY |
| Dix and Reading 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 |
$920±$111 43% below NY |
$718±$172Lowest 56% below NY |
| Reading and Lyons are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,219Highest 51% below NY |
$2,998Lowest 54% below NY |
$3,141 52% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±19.2Lowest NY: 52.1% |
35.6%±12.2 NY: 52.1% |
44.5%±13.6Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Dix and Lyons are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Lowest NY: 14% |
14.3%Highest NY: 14% |
12.2% NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.4%Highest NY: 54.3% |
74.9% NY: 54.3% |
66.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest 8 yrs newer than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1952 7 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 13% below NY |
21 min 37% below NY |
20 minLowest 39% below NY |
| Work from home | 11.7%±4.6 NY: 14.9% |
11.8%±8.3Highest NY: 14.9% |
4.3%±2.3Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Lyons 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 | — | #388 of 484 in NY | #391 of 484 in NY |
| School district | — | LYONS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | WATKINS GLEN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | LYONS SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | WATKINS GLEN CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5Lowest |
10.9Highest |
| 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.