Compare towns
Reading vs Lyons vs Dix vs Starkey
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 affordable homes ($98k median).
Dix has the most renters (33.9% rent).
Starkey has the most people working from home (14.9%).
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 | Starkey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,637Lowest |
5,594Highest |
3,660 |
3,381 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-0.1% NY: +4.2% |
-2.8% NY: +4.2% |
-4.6%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 |
41.3±2.5 4% 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% |
22.6%±4.3 NY: 20.5% |
| Lyons and Starkey 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%±3.4 NY: 17.9% |
27.9%±5Highest NY: 17.9% |
12.7%±3Lowest 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% NY: 40.2% |
16.4%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.4Highest NY: 7% |
2.6%±1.6 NY: 7% |
2.9%±1.9 NY: 7% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest 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 |
$55,064±$7k 36% 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 |
$145,700±$17k 66% 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 |
$744±$96 54% 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 | $3,219 51% below NY |
$2,998Lowest 54% below NY |
$3,141 52% below NY |
$3,412Highest 48% 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%±13.6 NY: 52.1% |
45%±14.6Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Starkey and Dix 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% NY: 14% |
12.2% NY: 14% |
19.7%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.4%Highest NY: 54.3% |
74.9% NY: 54.3% |
66.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
73.3% 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 |
1966 7 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 13% below NY |
21 min 37% below NY |
20 minLowest 39% below NY |
26 min 20% below NY |
| Work from home | 11.7%±4.6 NY: 14.9% |
11.8%±8.3 NY: 14.9% |
4.3%±2.3Lowest NY: 14.9% |
14.9%±8.5Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Starkey and Lyons 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 | #358 of 484 in NY |
| School district | — | LYONS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | WATKINS GLEN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | DUNDEE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | LYONS SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | WATKINS GLEN CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL | DUNDEE JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5 |
10.9Highest |
8.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.