Compare towns
Reading vs Riga vs Starkey 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%).
Riga has the most expensive homes ($228k median).
Starkey has the most people working from home (14.9%).
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 | Reading | Riga | Starkey | Dix |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,637Lowest |
5,534Highest |
3,381 |
3,660 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-0.1% NY: +4.2% |
-4.6%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-2.8% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 46.3±6.4 16% above NY |
48.2±6.6 21% above NY |
41.3±2.5Lowest 4% above NY |
50.1±2.8Highest 26% above NY |
| Dix and Riga 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% |
20.9%±4.6 NY: 20.5% |
22.6%±4.3Highest NY: 20.5% |
13.7%±3.4Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Starkey and Riga 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% |
21.6%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
12.7%±3Lowest NY: 17.9% |
27.9%±5Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Dix and Riga are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% NY: 40.2% |
42.5%Highest NY: 40.2% |
16.4%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
17.4% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.4 NY: 7% |
4.8%±1.8Highest NY: 7% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest NY: 7% |
2.9%±1.9 NY: 7% |
| Riga 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±$9k about the NY average |
$100,750±$10kHighest 17% above NY |
$55,064±$7k 36% below NY |
$53,668±$8kLowest 38% below NY |
| Riga and Reading 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 |
$227,600±$12kHighest 46% below NY |
$145,700±$17kLowest 66% below NY |
$165,000±$14k 61% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,507±$514Highest 7% below NY |
$907±$273 44% below NY |
$744±$96 54% below NY |
$718±$172Lowest 56% below NY |
| Reading and Riga 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 |
$4,622Highest 30% below NY |
$3,412 48% below NY |
$3,141Lowest 52% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±19.2Lowest NY: 52.1% |
56.7%±19.8Highest NY: 52.1% |
45%±14.6 NY: 52.1% |
44.5%±13.6 NY: 52.1% |
| Riga and Starkey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% NY: 14% |
3.2%Lowest NY: 14% |
19.7%Highest NY: 14% |
12.2% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.4% NY: 54.3% |
87.1%Highest NY: 54.3% |
73.3% NY: 54.3% |
66.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 8 yrs newer than NY |
1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY |
1966 7 yrs newer than NY |
1952Lowest 7 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 13% below NY |
24 min 27% below NY |
26 min 20% below NY |
20 minLowest 39% below NY |
| Work from home | 11.7%±4.6 NY: 14.9% |
10.7%±3.4 NY: 14.9% |
14.9%±8.5Highest NY: 14.9% |
4.3%±2.3Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Starkey 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 | — | #96 of 484 in NY | #358 of 484 in NY | #391 of 484 in NY |
| School district | — | CHURCHVILLE-CHILI CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | DUNDEE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | WATKINS GLEN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | CHURCHVILLE-CHILI SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | DUNDEE JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | WATKINS GLEN CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Highest |
8.8Lowest |
10.9 |
| 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.